(Photo: Travis Whittaker/WCSN)
James Sanchez spent two years at the University of Michigan. He played 61 total games and used two years of his NCAA eligibility.
However, Sanchez knew his performance over two seasons was not enough. The 6-foot-2, 195-pound forward had just 21 total points in his time with the Wolverines.
He felt it hardly reflected his capabilities. The former U.S. National Team Development Program forward felt the best way to advance his career was to take a step back.
The Northbrook, Illinois, native chose to leave the University of Michigan to play for one of the 16 teams in the United States Hockey League, the Dubuque Fighting Saints. While the transition from the NCAA to the USHL is rare, the move is legal as the USHL is strictly amateur, a quality which preserves players’ abilities to play college hockey.
Sanchez’s time with the Fighting Saints saw growth and maturity during the 2018-2019 season, yet he was looking to take his game to the next level again.
“Fresh start,” Sanchez said. “I think it definitely helped going to Dubuque to get confidence back and go back to the player that I knew I was… it’s definitely not the most ideal path, but I think it was a blessing in disguise.“
Sanchez tallied 16 goals and 40 points in 45 games in 2018-2019, but it was his play-making abilities that caught the eye of Arizona State associate head coach Mike Field.
“I actually had been tracking and following his development path all the way back until when he was 15 years old,” the former Dubuque assistant coach and director of scouting said. “I’ve always watched his career. When things weren’t a good fit at Michigan and Dubuque ended up getting his rights heading back there, I was interested to see how he was going to bounce back. In James’ credit, he handled it the right way and focused on his development, and the rest is history.”
“James’ confidence has grown this year. He’s always had the skill set and the ability to be a great player. I think a lot of it is just him knowing that our staff believed in what he can do. We’re relying on him and his teammates are counting on him, so he takes a lot of pride in trying to perform, and he’s living up to those expectations.”
After a successful rebounding bounce-back season at Dubuque, Sanchez was ready to take his game back to the collegiate level.
“I knew I could do more,” Sanchez said.
Then, Greg Powers and the Sun Devils handed him his golden ticket.
“He needed a fresh start and just to be put into a position where he knew he was counted on and believed in,” Powers said. “We gave that to him here, and he’s taken it and ran with it.”
Sanchez has taken advantage of his short time in Tempe, leading the Sun Devils with 21 assists, including 14 primary helpers through 26 games.
However, it’s not his point-producing that has made the power forward stand out in his first year in the Valley.
It’s his newfound role as the team’s top-line center.
With the off-season subtractions of Dylan Hollman and Anthony Croston, the Sun Devils’ depth at center was in question.
Senior forwards Brett Gruber and Tyler Busch were ASU’s main centermen on the depth chart to begin the year, but Sanchez has stepped up into the critical top-line center role with his top-notch play-making skill set.
“I knew he would be in our top-six,” Powers said. “Johnny hasn’t really had that high-end skilled guy to play with yet, and Sanchez’s skill is off the charts with some of the plays he’s made and the primary assists that he’s had on a number of goals.”
The transition wasn’t smooth sailing early on. Sanchez was the top-line left winger at Dubuque, alongside his current Sun Devil teammate William Knierim.
However, with his hard work and growing confidence at practice throughout the season, Sanchez’s top-line centering skill set has been a pleasant surprise, although Knierim is not surprised of Sanchez’s emergence.
“It’s not a coincidence that he’s leading the team in assists,” Knierim said. “He’s finally getting the chance to prove himself at this level by making the most of his opportunity.”
That opportunity was given to Sanchez before the beginning of the season.
In the team’s first skate after the summer break, Sanchez was put up against ASU’s leading goal scorer from last season in Johnny Walker.
“Our first skate we went head to head,” Walker said. “We were screaming at each other, and then we didn’t talk for a week.”
Powers noticed the fierce, competitive energy between Sanchez and Walker during the preseason scrimmages and decided to put them together during the Renaissance Cup in Beijing.
“He and Johnny have great chemistry. We put them together in China in the third game and they didn’t look back. We haven’t looked back since.”
“We got to China and we started talking a little more,” Walker said. “We ended up getting put together. Two days later, we’re like best friends.
“He’s just a competitor. When he wasn’t on my team in these scrimmages, we were going at it and competing. Then you put him on my line and he’s my favorite player. It’s pretty funny how hockey works like that. I really enjoy being with him and playing on the top line together.”
Even Sanchez saw the chemistry with Walker and his teammates forming in China, starting to talk more on the plane rides over the Pacific Ocean.
“Everything just went hand in hand,” Sanchez said. “After a few games, we started to put up some points and gained confidence and trust each other. Off the ice, we’d be happy after a game and we would hang out. The whole experience in China definitely was a big eye-opener and created new friendships.”
As anchors on the top line, Walker and Sanchez have combined for 23 goals, 36 assists and 58 points, which is just over a quarter of Arizona State’s offensive production.
Riding a four-game point streak after last weekend’s sweep over Rochester Institute of Technology, Sanchez now has accumulated seven multi-point performances with points in all but five games this season.
Sanchez attributes his success to the opportunity he has received, evolving into Arizona State’s top-line center and taking the role with a stride of confidence and composure.
“It’s nice playing a good number of minutes every night,” Sanchez said. “The more you play, the more involved you become, and the more you’re able to help score.”
Sanchez’s blossoming has allowed Powers to put him at the forefront of the Sun Devils’ centering depth chart, and his premiere play-making and passing abilities is something that the program has not seen in its short Division I history.
“He’s made some plays that we just haven’t had guys that have made,” Powers said. “He brings an element that we have not had.”
