UA goalie Garrett Patrick, narrowly blocks ASU forward Chriss Blessing’s shot, assist from forward Sean Murphy at a home game against UA on Saturday, Oct. 11, 2014 in Tempe. UA was shutdown by ASU 3-0. (Photo by Mario Mendez)With Queen’s famous tune “We Are The Champions” echoing throughout Oceanside Ice Arena Saturday during the pregame championship banner reveal, the No. 1 ASU hockey team went out and played like champions in defeating the No. 18 UA Wildcats by a score of 3-0.
Numerous alumni and VIPs were in attendance for the unveiling, including ASU athletic director Ray Anderson and all eight graduated seniors except captain Colin Hekle. Minutes before the opening face-off, the players assembled at center ice as the banner was revealed, recognizing the 2013-14 team for the first ACHA national championship in school history.
Many of the alumni came and spoke to the team during the week at practice, which ASU coach Greg Powers said reminded the team what it takes to win a national title.
Forward Eric Rivard makes a break down the ice at a home game against UA on Saturday, Oct. 11, 2014. ASU beat UA 3-0. (Photo by Mario Mendez)“It was great for our new guys to (see all the alumni together) before the game,” Powers said. “We talked before the game that you don’t win championships without passion every single time you take the ice. As soon as our guys get that and as soon as soon as they play with the passion that we saw tonight (against UA) like our team last year did, we’ll be just as good.”
With all the pomp and circumstance out of the way, the Sun Devils (8-0) took little time to get on the board, albeit with a little controversy attached to it.
Sophomore forward Sean Murphy took the Alex Temby pass across the blue line, splitting two UA defenders and generating a breakaway against Wildcat goaltender Garrett Patrick. It appeared that Murphy’s shot hit off the crossbar and back onto the ice, but referees ruled it a goal and confirmed it on replay to give the Sun Devils a 1-0 lead just two and a half minutes into the game.
Murphy was amazed to find himself with so much space, and wasted no time in making the most of it.
“I saw (junior forward Chris) Blessing open, and then I saw a lane down the center so I just got to puck to him and took off,” he said. “I knew he’d get me the puck so I just went with it (and scored).”
ASU continued the pressure through a sloppy first period and put together solid opportunities, but could not capitalize on a crucial five on three power play towards the end of the period to go into the break with just a one goal advantage.
Video by Fabian Ardaya | Sports reporter
Both sides play a fairly even second period, with the Wildcats (2-3) appearing to have a breakthrough about halfway through the period. Forward Dylan Carter’s shot came within inches of passing sophomore goaltender Robert Levin to put UA back in it, but couldn’t quite get it in.
The Sun Devils finally broke through on the power play just minutes later, capitalizing after Wildcat forward Sean Gruenhagen was called for hooking and unsportsmanlike conduct. After cycling the puck around sophomore forward Chris Burkemper found junior defenseman Connor Schmidt, who slapped it past Patrick to give ASU the 2-0 lead at the end of the second period.
The goal marked a much-improved power play for ASU, which despite converting on just one of six attempts were able to move the puck around and generate opportunities.
“I thought (the power play) was great tonight,” Powers said. “It’s not always about scoring on the power play, it’s about sustaining momentum, getting good chances and wearing them down.”
Play continued to even out throughout the third period, with UA failing to convert on several opportunities in the attacking zone. After clearing the puck on the power play, ASU managed to force a turnover in UA’s own zone. It was Murphy again, who fired the wrist shot into the back of the net to extend the ASU lead to 3-0 with 6:30 remaining.
Murphy’s second goal was one he read from the start, breaking on his opportunity and finishing to put the game away for ASU.
“I kind of read the play, and saw it opening up,” he said. “The puck bounced to me because of (sophomore forward Ryan) Belonger’s great forecheck, and I just put it on net and it went in.”
Goaltending was stellar on both ends for the second straight night, as sophomore goalie Robert Levin’s shutout on 19 saves was nearly overshadowed by Patrick, who had 31 saves on 34 shots.
“Our team played very well in front of me,” Levin said. “They were playing simple, as always, and our penalty kill did a great job. There were no second chance opportunities, so it made (the shutout) easy.”
After a disappointing performance in Friday’s 4-1 win, Powers was impressed with how his team responded to UA’s high work rate, albeit still acknowledging the room for improvement.
“We certainly can play better,” he said. “We haven’t even come close to peaking, and that’s good. You don’t want to peak in October, you want to peak in March. As long as we keep building from game to game, which we have, we’re where we need to be.”
The Sun Devils hit the road next weekend for three games in the midwest, starting with Central Oklahoma on Thursday night followed up with two games against Oklahoma.
Additional notes:
- Freshman defenseman Gianni Mangone sat for ASU on Saturday night after struggling against UA Friday night. Powers elected to sit him in lieu of sophomore defensman Jarrod Levos, who dressed out for “Banner Night” as a returning player from last season’s team. Powers did say, however, that the move was not permanent and to expect Mangone back in the lineup next week.
- The series sweep against the No. 18 Wildcats improved ASU’s record against UA under Powers to 41-1, with the only loss coming on senior night last season.
- Powers was impressed with the play of Schmidt and freshman defensman Ed McGovern, who he called the team’s “horses” along the blue line.
THREE STARS
First Star: Sean Murphy (two goals)
Second Star: Robert Levin (0 GA, 17 saves)
Third Star: Connor Schmidt (one goal)
Reach the reporter at fardaya@asu.edu or follow him on Twitter @fardaya15
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