(Photo: Patricia Vicente/WCSN)
In two years with the University of Michigan, during his single campaign in the United States Hockey League and through the first few weeks of James Sanchez’s stint with Arizona State University, the 6-foot-2, 195-pound junior center has not been known for his ability to score goals.
Prior to ASU’s 20-day break leading up to its contest against Vermont on Friday night, Sanchez was ranked No. 2 in the country in assists (13) and tied for No. 3 in total points (15).
Through 11 games with the Sun Devils, he had totaled just two goals and had nine in 61 games with the Wolverines.
On Friday night at Oceanside Ice Arena in front of 845 fans, Sanchez broke his perceived norm. ASU’s junior newcomer scored two goals against the Catamounts, who fell to 1-9-1 on the season with the 2-1 loss to the Sun Devils (7-4). ASU sophomore goaltender Evan DeBrouwer had 29 saves.
“I thought we played well,” ASU head coach Greg Powers said. “After being off for 20 days, we came out and controlled the pace of the game.
“Good teams have to win games like that”
Sanchez’s first goal of the night was a rocket from the right face-off circle with 13:36 left in the second period. The crack of the puck meeting the stick followed by the clank of it ricocheting of the crossbar and into the net was all that could be seen. The shot was a missile and it was set up by sophomore defenseman Josh Maniscalco.
“With [senior defenseman Brinson Pashcinuk] and [Maniscalco] up there, it’s definitely a lot easier to do that,” Sanchez said.
Sanchez’s second score was set up similarly.
He skated with the puck to the opposite face-off circle from the one he scored his first goal and rifled in a shot from there. The goal gave ASU a 2-0 lead with 1:30 left in the second period, coming on a 4-on-3 power play.
“Special teams was going tonight, and that was huge for us,” Sanchez said.
Sanchez’s scoring surge came at the most opportune times for the Sun Devils, who were without freshman forward Logan Jenuwine. Jenuwine, who had scored three goals this season in 10 games, was dismissed from the program due to a violation of team rules. The story was first reported by Walter Cronkite Sports Network.
There were no further comments made after the game with regards to Jenuwine or fellow freshman forward Carson Briere’s dismissal from the program.
In the waning moments of the third period, the Sun Devils’ defense was forced to earn its victory. The Catamounts — who struggled to put together clean offensive runs throughout the night — brought intense pressure in the final frame of the contest. Vermont’s surprise surge late in the game threatened to tie the contest.
“Our guys fought through it,” Powers said of the defense as time expired.
Winning the face-off battle 8-7, the Catamounts equaled the Sun Devils with 12 shots in the opening frame.
Their pressure was immense at times, with a breakaway opportunity that was ultimately stopped by DeBrouwer and a power-play earned at the 1:53 mark that generated some of their best offense.
While the Catamounts used their speed to get the puck down the ice on multiple occasions, it seemed as if their pressure died as soon as the puck glided over the blue line.
Aside from its power play, Vermont had nearly no possessions in which it fired more than one shot. Vermont had plenty of promise throughout the contest but lacked punch.
Despite not playing in almost three weeks, DeBrouwer quickly adjusted to the speed of the game even though he saw very little action early in the contest.
“I was fortunate tonight that they had a few chances early in the game,” he said. “For a goalie, that’s what you want. I think I had three shots right off the bat and right after that I felt fine.”
Vermont’s offense improved between the first and second periods.
The speed demonstrated in the first period carried over to the second. Even still, the Catamounts trailed 25-17 in shots at the conclusion of the period.
Vermont had plenty of chances to score throughout the night. None of those opportunities were more prominent — or poorly handled — than a 3-on-1 breakaway in the second period. The shot on that particular play and on many other occasions throughout the night was fired high and careened off of DeBrouwer’s right shoulder.
Vermont scored its only goal of the night early in the third period. With 17:05 left, junior forward Ace Cowans found the back of the net on a second chance bounce. The play was easily Vermont’s best of night.
Trailing by just a goal, Vermont mounted serious pressure until the final horn. DeBrouwer was the late-game hero.
“The guy to my left here [DeBrouwer] did a hell of a job,” Powers said.
