Photo: Sun Devil Athletics
Sources confirmed Arizona State sophomore goaltender Evan DeBrouwer has been named the starter ahead of ASU’s season opener against Mercyhurst on Saturday night. DeBrouwer beat graduate transfer goalie Max Prawdzik and freshman Justin Robbins for the opening night start but is not guaranteed to start beyond the first game.
DeBrouwer, who is the only returning goalie on the roster, has not been named the starter longterm as the team plans to reevaluate the starting goaltender on a game-to-game basis.
“I think I’ve calmed down in the net,” DeBrouwer said. “(Volunteer goaltender coach) Eddie (Lack) has talked to me about playing deeper and more relaxed and just letting the game come to me.”
Lack noticed the improvements.
“He’s super calm in net,” Lack said. “That’s what I feel is going to translate to the rest of the team, too. He doesn’t get rattled; he tracks the puck well.”
A season ago, DeBrouwer served as the team’s backup netminder to former Sun Devil and current Ottowa Senators goalie Joey Daccord. He played the final 8:20 of the Sun Devils 6-1 loss at Cornell during which he allowed one score.
In the 2017-2018 season, DeBrouwer, who started in goal for the Prince George Spruce Kings of the British Columbia Hockey League, was named team MVP after sporting a 26-14-0-4 record, 2.24 goals-against average and .920 save percentage.
ASU coach Greg Powers and Lack made it clear that the Sun Devils’ goalie battle would remain open throughout the course of the season as the talent behind DeBrouwer has been strong.
Before transferring to ASU, Prawdzik appeared in three games for the Boston University Terriers. He served as the backup to 2017 first-round draft pick Jake Oettinger, posting a 2.59 GAA and .889 save percentage in the brief stint.
“He’s always trying to get better,” Lack said of Prawdzik. “I see a little bit of myself in him. I really like his compete level.”
Prawdzik played a total of six games in his career at Boston and came to ASU in favor of the better opportunity to play.
“When I talked to coach Powers about coming here, I said I want a fair opportunity,” Prawdzik said. “There’s nothing determining who gets in the net other than how everybody plays, and that’s literally all you can ask for.”
The Sun Devils will also dress 20-year-old freshman Robbins for games.
Robbins has played for the Chicago Steel of the United States Hockey League for the last two years and sported a 3.22 save percentage in 44 games last year.
The Sun Devils’ only returning goalie from last season will open up the team’s 2019-’20 campaign, the first without Richter Trophy finalist Daccord. But, with DeBrouwer in net and Pawdzik and Robbins close behind him, Powers feels the in-house talent is enough to move on from the past.
“The Joey Daccord era is done,” Powers said. “What we’re telling our goalies is to be you, don’t be Joey. Be yourself. You’re not here because we thought that you could be like Joey, you’re here because we liked what we saw in you.”
