(Photo: Brendan Belfield/WCSN)
TEMPE – It’s the weekend of goodbyes for Arizona State Men’s Hockey.
The Sun Devils won their penultimate game at Oceanside Ice Arena 2-1 on Friday night against Long Island University, and are just hours removed from parting ways with 10 seniors. The beginning of the end was bittersweet for ASU.
“It was really cool to kind of take a step back tonight,” senior forward Johnny Walker said. “And realize what a privilege it’s been to be here.”
The Sun Devils pieced together a solid win over the Sharks for their first victory since Jan. 15.
“It feels good,” ASU head coach Greg Powers said. “College hockey is hard to win. You take wins any way you can get them.”
The Sun Devils started the season off hot on power-play chances and will end the season like-wise.
“The power play has been good to us all year,” Powers said. “It’s been one of our real bright spots consistently all year, and they’ve done a great job.”
They amassed one goal in three power-play opportunities on Friday.
The referees sent the Sharks freshman defenseman Spencer Cox to the penalty box with about four minutes left in the first period. Just over half a minute later, ASU senior forward Colin Theisen found the back of the net to open up scoring for both teams.
Theisen also assisted ASU’s second goal, giving him 40 points on the season and the most points in a single season by a Sun Devil ever.
Freshman forward Josh Doan scored the game-winning goal for the Sun Devils in the second period. Doan added his 12th goal and 37th point of the year.
He gave the lead back to ASU after LIU senior forward and former Sun Devil PJ Marrocco evened the game at 1-1.
Marrocco gave the Sun Devils trouble all night. He amassed five shots and two blocks. He also berated and scuffled with several ASU players throughout the game.
The Sun Devils fought hard until the very last whistle on Friday. They hope to finish their season on a high note.
“I want the guys to just enjoy this and go have fun,” Powers said. “Especially these two guys [Walker and senior defenseman Jacob Wilson] and the guys that have been here the longest. The message before the game was that last month hasn’t been great. We haven’t had a great last month, but that month can not and will not define their body of work and what they’ve done for our program.”
