Ed McGovern wore this gorgeous black game worn jersey while playing for the Arizona State Sun Devils during their first full season as an NCAA Division I program.
It was McGovern’s second season with ASU at the Division I level, with ASU playing a split schedule between ACHA hockey and NCAA Division I hockey in 2015-2016. He also played with the program in 2014-2015 before they made the leap from club to NCAA hockey.
Tasked with being a stay-at-home defender, McGovern played 23 games with zero goals and assists and was a -4 in 2016-2017. He finished his ASU career having played 44 games at the NCAA level, with zero goals and two assists and -23 in his career.
Ed McGovern hits Notre Dame’s Joe Wegwerth on October 7th, 2016 while wearing this sweater. (photo credit: Rachel Lewis/Inside Hockey)
McGovern was one of a small number of Arizona natives who were part of ASU’s inaugural Division I lineup.
Sun Devils head coach Greg Powers was thrilled to add McGovern prior to the program’s leap.
“Eddie is a leader on and off of the ice, he exemplifies what we want in our program in every way," coach Greg Powers said in a statement. "Eddie is the kind of kid who can take our program to the next level with the presence he brings. He's that good."
Eddie isn’t the only one who is that good.
His sister is Katie McGovern, former Minnesota Duluth standout and Isobel Cup champion with the Minnesota Whitecaps. Their father also played and coached as the McGovern’s grew up.
McGovern’s jersey is one of the most unique in my collection.
To avoid violating NCAA rules, most programs remove the nameplates before selling their jerseys. In this case, however, the sweat/salt residue from McGovern’s hard style permeated the plate itself and left the clear impression of his name still on the back of the sweater even without the nameplate.
Both sleeves have various burns or holes and there is an interesting amount of white fuzz or fabric into most of the creases and lines of the jersey in the sleeves.
The most notable feature of ASU jerseys from that time period is the numbering.
There are tiny pitchforks embossed throughout the twill of all of the numbers on the sweater. It is actually kind of surprising how rough and ragged the numbers have become after so many washes and on-ice wear.
Ed McGovern was a steady part of the early core of ASU’s push into NCAA hockey.
While he spent just two seasons with the team (three in total counting one year of club hockey), #4’s another success story who came up through local hockey here in the desert.
McGovern, who is a Scottsdale native, was part of the PF Changs 18U AAA team in 2009-2010, and it’s successor the Jr. Coyotes 18U AAA in 2010-2011.
As the years keep sliding by, more and more names are going to pop up on that list in Division I, junior hockey, and the pros. It’s the early success stories like Ed McGovern and his sister Katie McGovern who paved the way and showed the path for those kids.