ACHA D II Hockey: ASU wins season opener 13-0 over Park University
ASU takes a first period faceoff on Sunday at Mountain America Community Iceplex. The Sun Devils scored 13 goals on 124 shots in its season opening victory. (Chase Clemens photo/InfernoTV)
Tempe, AZ – The ASU mens D2 hockey program waited nearly eight months to get rid of the bitter taste of losing in the opening round of the WCHC playoffs last February. After a 30-minute scheduling delay, the puck finally dropped on its 2023-2024 season Sunday at Mountain America Community Iceplex.
The Sun Devils (1-0) were unphased by the late 9:30 p.m. start time. ASU came out of the gates with a relentless attack, scoring five goals in the first period to defeat Park University (0-4) 13-0 in its home opener.
“Tonight, we saw full buy in,” ASU Head Coach Jarred Smith said. “From start to finish, our guys were focused the whole time.”
The Sun Devils talent and depth advantage was evident after the first few shifts of the game, outshooting the Pirates 9-1 in the opening five minutes. The 10th shot found the back of the net. Junior forward Rhains Envoldsen scored a shorthanded goal with 13:01 remaining to give ASU a 1-0 lead.
The next goals came in quick succession. The Sun Devils scored three goals in under two-and-a-half minutes to go up 4-0 with 6:11 remaining. Senior defenseman Connor Manning started the scoring frenzy with a hard slapshot from the point - followed by goals from sophomore and junior forwards Brandon Bossch and Ethan Bellettini.
“After the way last season ended,” Manning said, “it was really important for us to come out with a good start. If the shot was there, we took it because we always want to put the puck on net if we can.”
Freshman forward Ethan Rosenberg scored on the power play with 2:09 remaining to give the Sun Devils a 5-0 first period lead.
The second period began just the way the first one ended. Rosenberg scored his second goal of the game one minute and 12 seconds in, to make it 6-0. Goals by sophomore forward Jacob Gunderson and sophomore defenseman Johan Gilbert gave ASU an 8-0 lead after two periods.
“We have a pretty big group of freshmen and new guys,” sophomore forward Will Kelleher said. “It's nice to finally see how everything’s come together. Our young guys really showed what they had to offer.”
With the game no longer in doubt, fans and media focused their attention on the shot disparity. The Sun Devils had a 74-7 shot advantage, and students wondered if the Sun Devils could reach 100 in the third period.
The third period began with goals from junior forward Dylan Quane and freshman forward Jed Morone. In his Sun Devils debut, Morone scored two goals in 20 seconds to make it 11-0. ASU reached the 100-shot milestone with 9:30 remaining. Bossch (2) and junior defenseman Johan Gilbert added two more goals to make it 13-0.
“We had lots of shots on net tonight,” coach Smith said. “We want to make those opportunities really count with better chances, so we're going back to the drawing board a little bit.”
ASU finished with a 124-9 shot advantage. Freshman goalie Hayden Manning stepped up in the few opportunities he had to show his ability. He made two breakaway saves on the Pirates points leader, forward Matthew Gagliano.
Depth scoring and special teams led the Sun Devils to victory. ASU went 3/4 on the power play and 2/2 on the penalty kill. The fourth line contributed five goals and the third defensive pair netted two goals.
“I think we got a lot of depth going up and down the lineup,” junior forward and assistant captain Vance Walcott said. “We have young guys coming in that are really going to be able to carry the team and a lot of the newer guys are stepping into leadership roles.”
Pirates freshman goalie Blaise Becker deserves recognition for making 111 saves. This is the second time of the season Becker has been asked to make triple-digit saves, and it won’t be the last. This is the program’s inaugural hockey season and the Pirates have only 13 skaters and two goalies.
“The reason we play some of these games,” Park University Head Coach Jeff Zimmel said, “is because the kids need to know that this is the level we need to get to. Hopefully we can get kids attracted to Park University and someday be as good as ASU.”
The Sun Devils will quickly move on from the new in-state rival to a familiar one. ASU will host Grand Canyon University (1-0) Friday at 9:00 p.m. (MST) at MACU Iceplex. The Pirates will play Loyola Marymount Friday, Oct. 13 at 8:30 p.m. (MST) at Community Ice Center in Mesa, AZ.