Cullen Potter sat with his family at the Peacock Theatre and is expected to be selected by the NHL team in the first round of the draft. Time ticking results, and even with some deals, Porter was still sitting in the crowd, which surprised most people.
With the No. 32 draft pick rolling, it seems Porter might have to stay in Los Angeles for a day to hear his name on Saturday. However, Calgary Fire legend Lanny McDonald gave the young forward a surprise.
McDonald’s announced Porter was the 32nd pick and the Flames’ second pick that day. When Porter first walked to the stage and put on the flame jersey for the first time, he was just a draft pick, not the history that many people expected to make: becoming a first-round Arizona hockey player.
How Porter made history at ASU
On May 22, 2024, Porter changed his career. At the age of 17, he had just completed a great season in the U.S. Hockey National Team Development Program. He is dedicated to Michigan State, a team that has just won the game 26-7-4 and won the Top Ten regular season and championships.
However, Porter decided to change his future by changing his commitment to ASU. At that time, ASU was still a growing program. They made three NHL players, including Josh Doan, who just played his first NHL game with the Arizona Coyotes. Compared to Michigan State, Porter’s team change is an interesting option.
Related: Maple Leaf first visit to Utah, creating time to reflect on Arizona
Although many people questioned his decision to go to ASU, Porter flourished in the desert. He scored 22 points in 35 games, and in their first year, the Sun Devils finished second in their first year. They then swept Minnesota Duluth in the first round of the NCHC playoffs before falling in Denver in the second round.
Porter’s first NCAA targetđź”± #bethertadition
đź’» @floHockey pic.twitter.com/h4wfodlyf6
– Sun Devil Hockey (@sundevilhockey) October 5, 2024
Throughout the season, Porter found himself supported by Tempe’s entire group. As one of the youngest players in the NCAA, Porter easily entered ASU and lost confidence. However, he believes the coaching staff helped him retain and strengthen that confidence in a successful season.
“Give employees confidence in me, come early, be able to trust the employees, they believe me, I think it’s huge,” Porter said. “They took my chances and believed me, and I think it’s rewarding for me and them. I’ve had a great year and can’t wait to go back next year.”
The connection between ASU’s players and staff is impressive. You can see the strong culture that the young hockey program has built over the past decade, even in the draft, head coach Greg Powers accompanied Potter and Sun Devil Ben Kevan to the game.
Powers, the first to Potter mentioned after being drafted by the Flame, mentioned the gratitude and luck of having an ASU head coach throughout his life. He attributes power to the point where he was selected in the first round of the NHL draft.
“He helped me grow and mature, especially in college,” Porter said. “Some of them are already 24-25 years old and I am 17. Talking to him and building relationships with him really helped me grow into one person and one person.”
As of late, Arizona has produced some great hockey players. Doan, Tage Thompson and Auston Matthews all became daily players in the NHL, although from a state where hockey is not well-known. Joey Daccord has also become a product of Arizona after becoming the first NHL Sun Devils in 2015. Porter meets and learns from them with the close bonds formed by hockey players from the state.
“It’s so cool to see some players like Doaner skating in the summer. Last summer, I had to meet them and learn a little from them. Matthews and Thompson, they were skating there too. So, it was a cool experience to be on the ice with them at the same time.”
Arizona hockey has been beaten over the past year. The Coyotes moved to Salt Lake City in April, and Tucson passers-by appeared to move to Reno within a few years, while the Youth Program had a hard time surviving without NHL funds. However, Porter still sees Arizona as the hockey market, growing despite historical challenges.
“I think that’s definitely growing,” Porter said. “Speaking about other schools in California since D1, so I think it’s great for the sport. Growing up, players like Matthews from Arizona and stuff like that, I think it’s great.”
Dreams come true
Like most children who have played hockey, Porter dreamed of being selected as the NHL when he grew up. However, this is not easy. Porter has been working hard since he started playing the sport and finally on Friday, everything paid off.
“It’s been a long journey since I was a kid,” Porter said. “I just put in a lot of work. It’s just the beginning of the journey now. I’m super happy and speechless.”
Cullen Potter (ASU Forward) was the last pick in the first round. #Forksup pic.twitter.com/ldh4biohpn
– Chase Beardsley (@chasebeardsley_) June 28, 2025
Porter will return to ASU in his sophomore season. His goal is to work hard to be more two-way players, while also adding more muscle to compete with the NHLERS. ASU has performed well with players like Daccord, Doan and Brinson Pasichnuk, preparing them for their NHL. There is no doubt that Porter will change.
“I want to use my speed effectively and in both areas, both defense and offense,” Porter said. “One day when I was playing in the NHL, I also wanted to wear more muscle and stuff to get stronger. Be able to compete with guys (6-foot-3 or 6-foot-4 or 6-foot-4) and they’re also very strong. I have to get stronger. I think these are two main things I focus on.”
Just like most young prospects in their second year in college, the latest flames are likely to take another step towards the next season. Especially as ASU keeps storing more explosive rosters. His incredible speed and hands have given him an advantage that many people don’t have in the NCAA, which will help him and ASU as they continue to grow together.
ASU has a motto called “Becoming a Tradition”. This means building a new legacy for yourself and your team while creating a foundation for future success. Many before Porter helped build ASU into a strong hockey program while making it a normal for Sun Devils to produce and thrive in the NHL. Potter rewrites the standard because he shows that ASU players can draft until the first round, which reflects ASU’s famous motto along the way.
For Porter, the road was tough. The odds piled up on him. But he did it and created the history of the Sun Devil at the same time. For him, the achievements of being selected for the NHL can be summarized in four words. These are the first four words he told the media after being selected: Dreams come true.
