Simply put, Arizona State’s season debut can be described in one word – blowout.
The Sun Devils trounced the Division II Texas A&M Aggies 13-0 last night in Oceanside Arena, with nine different players landing on the score sheet.
Dan Styrna sets up for an assist (Photo by WCSN)“There was nothing I didn’t like. We moved the puck well, and we were good defensively only allowing six shots against us,” head coach Greg Powers said. “There’s not too much we can draw from a game like this other than that it’s a good result and a good start.”
The team’s offense was firing on all cylinders, firing a total of 86 shots in the game. Team captain Colin Heckle was one of four Sun Devils to score two goals in the game.
“It was a good game to get the rust off. This game helps us out to get a feeling for everyone on the team, and to know where everyone’s going to be on the ice. That’s going to help us a lot,” Heckle said.
The team got a big boost from its younger players, as six freshmen scored in the game. Freshman defenseman Jordan Young led the team with six points (2 goals, 4 assists).
“We had a couple of newcomers that really played well. Jordan Young, Steven Collins, Brian McGinty all played very good hockey games. They’re highly talented kids and that’s what we expected out of them,” Powers said.
The team scored five goals in the 1st period and never took their foot off the gas, following it with four goals in both the 2nd and 3rd periods.Corey Frank lines up in net (Photo by WCSN)Goaltenders Joe D’Elia and Corey Frank split time in the game, but neither was really tested by the Aggie offense which only registered six shots.
Next week, the Sun Devils will host rival University of Arizona for a two-game series. The team acknowledges that the game will have a much more different environment.
“The place is going to be packed and it’s going to be loud. I expect a few jitters in the first shifts, but I think after we get through our first shifts we’re going to settle in. We’re going to play our game and we’re going to be able to dominate,” Heckle said.
The puck drop for game one of that series will be at 8 pm MT, at Oceanside Arena in Tempe, AZ.
