Artem Shlaine puts on one last show for No. 11 ASU against No. 6 Denver

(Photo: Joshua Eaton/WCSN)

ST. PAUL, Minn. — The final horn sounded at Xcel Energy Center, concluding Arizona State’s head-turning first season in the NCHC. After the handshake line, the ice cleared out and remained barren with the exception of graduate forward Artem Shlaine, who was taking a knee on the ice with his head locked into place and eyes fixated on the ice below him.

Junior forward Tucker Ness hung out at ASU’s bench and allowed Shlaine to sit in his thoughts. Once Shlaine was ready to leave the ice, he skated to the bench where Ness was waiting. Ness gave Shlaine a hug, a tap on top of the helmet and then skated off. Shlaine took another moment before getting off the ice to scan the arena one last time.

“It’s the last time you’re going to put on an Arizona State hockey jersey,” Shlaine said. “It’s my last college hockey game. Just take it all in… I’m just remembering and taking it all in and wrapping it up on the ice.”

No. 11 ASU’s (21-13-2, 14-9-1 NCHC) 4-2 loss against No. 6 Denver (29-10-1, 15-7-1 NCHC) in the NCHC Frozen Faceoff Semifinals on Friday marked the end of the Sun Devils’ season, and the end of Shlaine’s collegiate career. Shlaine’s tenure at ASU was only a year, but it was a memorable one.

Shlaine was once again one of the Sun Devils’ best players on the ice on Friday. His play making ability was on display and he even seemed to be the best player in the defensive zone for ASU.

The Sun Devils held their breath when Shlaine blocked a shot in the dying minutes of the first period and limped back to the bench. ASU started the second period without Shlaine on the bench and he didn’t return until a few minutes into the period.

Despite clearly being injured, Shlaine kept pushing and was still one of the best players on the ice. Shlaine was rewarded with 31 seconds remaining in the second period when he heavily forechecked sophomore defenseman Garrett Brown, who turned it over. Shlaine then continued to drive the net and sent a backhander past senior goaltender Matt Davis to tie the game at 2-2.

Shlaine was once again not on the Sun Devils’ bench to start the final frame and didn’t rejoin the game until five minutes into the period. When Shlaine returned, he continued to be ASU’s most effective forward by generating high-danger scoring chances and playing solid defensively.

“He’s a warrior,” head coach Greg Powers said. “I think he’s clearly our MVP, and for him, I mean, his foot’s probably broken. I’m pretty sure it’s fractured. So for him to come back and do what he did and get a big goal and just miss (junior forward Charlie Schoen) in the back door and made a great play there in the third to take the lead, and their guy just got their stick on him. That’s what he does.”

Shlaine has been the straw that stirs the drink for the Sun Devils this season. He missed the first six games of the season due to an injury and his production was quiet for the first five games back, with just one assist in that time. Once Shlaine notched his first goal of the season on Nov. 16 against Omaha, he took off and ASU did too.

Shlaine’s first goal of the season came on the same night that the Sun Devils won their first conference game in program history. That night sparked an eight game winning streak where Shlaine picked up six goals and 10 points.

Despite missing the first six games with injury and being quiet on the scoresheet for his first five games back, Shlaine was still the third highest scorer on ASU for the season with 38 points in 31 games played. His 17 goals are second on the Sun Devils and his 21 assists rank fourth. His 1.23 points per game rank third in the NCHC. In conference play, Shlaine was ASU’s top goal scorer and point getter with 17 goals and 31 points and his 21 assists were second on the team.

He was a Sun Devil for only a year, but Shlaine’s impact on the team has been felt throughout the locker room.

“He’s a winner, and he’s got a long career in front of him,” Shlaine said. “He made a huge impact on our program, on and off the ice. He’s an incredible kid, a great leader. All the guys that came in for a year were unbelievable. It’s frustrating when you only get a year with him, but he’s a difference maker. He’s always going to be remembered in a really positive light here.”