Brinson Pasichnuk knew this weekend would be an emotional roller coaster for him. He had a lot at stake.
First, he was sitting at career point No. 99 heading into the two-game series against Alaska-Anchorage. The 100th would make him the first Arizona State men’s hockey player ever to hit that number.
Second, this weekend’s two home games would be his last at Oceanside Ice Arena. Saturday night was Senior Night. He didn’t want to go out the wrong way.
With all that lurking over him, Pasichnuk likely had the best weekend he could have asked for.
He got that 100th point on Friday night in the Sun Devils’ dominating 5-0 win over the Seawolves – a point he had hunted desperately throughout the game. Calling the accomplishment “cool”, Pasichnuk had moved his motivations toward another event: Saturday. It was all that mattered now.
Not only did Pasichnuk and No. 10 ranked ASU (22-9-3) get the win over UAA (4-21-5), set a new program record for wins, extend a win streak to seven games and secure 11 victories in its last 12, but the senior defenseman and captain tallied a hat trick for career points No. 101, 102 and 103 in the Sun Devils’ 5-2 victory over the Seawolves Saturday night.
“I never in a million years expected to go out like that,” Pasichnuk said after the win. “It was incredible, but I’m not taking credit. That was a team win.”
The captain’s first goal on Senior Night was a classic of his. Skating right in front of the net about 20 feet from the red line, Pasichnuk received the puck after it bounced off of UAA junior goaltender Kris Carlson’s pad back into open ice. He readjusted his body to the puck and shot. With 13:45 left in the first period, it went in.
The next goal didn’t come in any way different.
The second was scored with just 4.3 seconds left in the second period in the same exact fashion: from dead-center, 20 feet from the red-line. It went right over Carlson’s left shoulder and in to give ASU a 4-2 lead.
Then, the final one: a breakaway goal scored less than 45 seconds into a five-minute major power play to put the Sun Devils up 5-2 with 13:15 left in the game.
“All glory to God,” Pasichnuk said. “It was such a cool night. These seniors beside me battled their rear ends off all season. I love these boys. It was for all of us, not just one of us tonight.”
Pasichnuk had 20-30 family members and friends in town from Bonnyville, Alberta – the town he played junior hockey in – for the weekend. The senior captain made that trek from cold country to the desert worth it for them.
“It was so great,” he said. “It was just so good. Those guys have been our best family friends for 22 years now, so just to see them come from a different country to watch a couple games on our senior weekend, it’s something we’ll forever be grateful for and cherish forever.”
UAA showed some resiliency in the second period before ASU laid the hammer. After sophomore winger PJ Marrocco scored on an odd man rush to put ASU up 3-1, the Seawolves narrowed the lead to 3-2 as freshman center Nick Wicks got a breakaway opportunity and popped it in against sophomore goaltender Evan DeBrouwer, who recorded 32 saves in a game where ASU was outshot 34-23.
“It wasn’t pretty at times,” head coach Greg Powers said. “This team is special. They find ways to win and they know how to win.”
ASU doubled their early lead after Pasichnuk’s first goal thanks to a tap-in by junior center James Sanchez. After constant Sun Devil pressure on the Seawolves, Sanchez got his stick in, had a wide open net and tapped it in with 4:46 left in the period.
UAA answered back shortly after for what was their first goal of the weekend. A Seawolves rush saw freshman winger Alex Fyre send a pass to fellow freshman winger Zach Nazzarett, who tapped it in behind DeBrouwer’s pad to make it 2-1.
The Sun Devils killed six Seawolves power plays on the night, boosting a penalty kill percentage that already ranks ninth in the country.
“Special teams wins games,” Powers said. “Our kill has been great. DeBrow’s [DeBrouwer] been great. He’s been sharp. Our guys were using the kill really well to give our bench energy. Guys are eating pucks and are playing selfless hockey. It’s great to see.”
Not lost in Pasichnuk’s massive night was senior forward Tyler Busch’s assist, recorded on Pasichnuk’s first goal of the night.
In the postgame press conference, the four seniors crowded into the small media room and surrounded Powers. Brinson’s eyes were large, almost as if he was stunned from the performance he had just put on for the home crowd. His brother, senior forward Steenn, was next to him, and had to answer a question regarding the emotions the group was feeling tonight.
“It’s emotional, but our season is not over,” Steenn Pasichnuk said. “It’s obviously emotional playing in your last home game at Oceanside Ice Arena, but we know that we still have a lot of hockey left.
“We’re going to save those emotions until we win the Frozen Four.”
