It was a milestone night for the Arizona State Men’s Hockey (5-9-2) in more ways than one.
Entering perhaps a must-win game, the Sun Devils called upon sophomore goaltender Justin Robbins to make his first career start against the No. 18 ranked Notre Dame Fighting Irish (5-6-1) in the teams’ final meeting of the season.
Despite Sunday being just the second game of his career, Robbins rewarded the Sun Devils for their faith in him. He played like a seasoned veteran rather than an unproven greenhorn, backstopping the Sun Devils to their first win of 2021 in a 5-3 win.
“It’s been a while,” Robbins said. “Just tried to get settled in, get in a rhythm and the boys did a great job letting me get comfortable.”
After missing part of the 2019-20 season due to a serious finger injury, Robbins entered this year as the third goaltender behind junior Evan DeBrouwer and freshman Cole Brady. With Brady inactive due to mononucleosis and DeBrouwer in need of a day off, it was Robbins’ time to prove his worth.
“Robby’s an A+ teammate,” senior forward Johnny Walker said. “Nothing makes me happier than to help him get a win. We all bought in and I think the consensus was doing it for him tonight.”
While Robbins provided a calming presence in the ASU net, Walker was busy reaching milestones of his own. The Sun Devils’ captain recorded his 100th career point on an assist late in the first period, making him the second ASU player ever to reach the century mark. Walker would add a goal and two power play assists before the end of the game, bringing him up to seven points in six games on the year.
Despite Robbins’ and Walker’s efforts, the game remained very much in the Fighting Irish’s reach until Notre Dame senior forward Colin Theisen received a match penalty with 8:58 left in regulation for a violent hit to the head of ASU senior defenseman Jacob Wilson. The Sun Devils wasted no time avenging themselves, as freshman forward Matthew Kopperud scored twice on the ensuing five-minute power play to put the game away.
“It was an ugly hit and it probably cost [Notre Dame] the game,” ASU head coach Greg Powers said. “You don’t want to see head contact but the refs got it right and our power play did a tremendous job.”
Thanks to his two late goals, Kopperud regained his title as the leading goal scorer in the country with 12 on the season, eight of which have came against the Fighting Irish.
“It’s got to be the building or something,” Kopperud said. “My stick just likes this building.”
Much to Kopperud’s dismay, ASU will not face Notre Dame again this season. Instead, the Sun Devils will face off against Wisconsin on Jan. 15 and 16 in hopes of sweeping the Badgers for a second time.
“We really needed a win tonight,” Powers said. “It was almost a must-win for us just so we could feel good heading into Madison.”
