D2 Hockey routs Canyon Cougars in opener

(Photo: Brooke Faber/WCSN)

Anytime the final score of a Hockey game is 21-1, people are going to take notice.

ASU’s D2 Men’s hockey team defeated College of Canyons’ D3 squad handily on Saturday in a game that looked like more of a practice than anything. Canyons’ Cougars were playing up a division, and it showed all game long. From start to finish, this team looked depleted. In the first period alone, the Sun Devils’ saw seven of their goals find the back of the net.

Forward Liam Pues saw two of his shots on goal reach the net, while both Justin Havriliak and Justin Butler added hat-tricks of their own. Virtually everyone was in on the action, including some members of the team who don’t regularly see this ice, which is huge for the overall experience of this team.

If nothing else, this game was a huge confidence boost for a team that already looks incredibly tough. With the reserves being able to take the ice tonight, Coach Dennis LeClair has to be feeling good about the composure of his team. The Devils have set the bar extremely high in just the first game of this young season with a 21 goal outing, and while every match-up won’t be this one-sided, this ASU team has to feel pretty good about the capability of their offense.

Overall, the Sun Devils have a lot to be proud of, 21 goals is no minor feat, regardless of who you’re up against.

Moral is high heading into the Devils’ next home match-up against the Weber State Wildcats this upcoming weekend. Puck drops at 7:30 Friday and Saturday night at Oceanisde Ice Arena. You can catch the live broadcast at http://cronkitesports.com/live-broadcasts/.