Feature by Craig Morgan
TEMPE, Ariz. -- Tyler Busch couldn't hide his emotions. The Sun Devils men's hockey team was in Columbus, Ohio one week after Busch's landmark 21st birthday to take on the No. 10 Buckeyes in back-to-back games on Jan. 13-14.
While playing his first year of junior hockey for the Spruce Grove Saints of the Alberta Junior Hockey League, Busch had committed to attend Ohio State, only to back out, re-open his recruiting, and eventually land at Arizona State.
This was a big moment.
"It was something I was looking forward to since the start of the year when I saw the schedule," Busch said. "I tried not to think too much about it because I didn't want too much pressure on myself."
If it's true that the best players elevate their games in big moments, Busch's ASU career is off to a promising start. The freshman scored the game-tying goal with 26 seconds left in regulation and Wade Murphy scored the lone goal of the shootout as the Sun Devils recorded what will go down as an official tie, but unofficially represent their first win over a top-10 program: a 3-2 road win over the Buckeyes.
"We've been playing top-end teams all year and had some really good efforts and been close, but to finally get over the hump goes a long way in helping us build confidence as a group," Busch said. "It felt good getting that goal."
Busch is part of a marquee freshman class that coach Greg Powers believes will elevate the Sun Devils to another level as they prepare to eventually join a conference and establish themselves as a winning Division I program. While Powers hopes each successive class will upgrade the program further, he sees Busch as the type of talent that will make an impact for however long he hangs around the program.
"With certain kids, you can just tell they are winners," Powers said. "When he opened up his recruiting we already knew who he was because Alberta is a huge focus of our recruiting. We want to get the best kids out of western Canada and we loved how he played.
"When he was with Spruce Grove, he wore a C (for captain). He was a leader. He played a 200-foot game and he was always going to the right side of the puck. He just had that it factor. When he became available [assistant coach Alex Hicks] and I drove up from RPI [in Troy, New York] to Toronto for the Junior A Challenge to go watch him play for Canada West. He was wearing a letter for them, he helped them win a gold medal and we just stayed on him; let him know how serious we are."
Busch knew that he would have immediate opportunities to play in all situations and that has panned out at ASU. Aside from paying big minutes in 5-on-5 play, he is playing a key role on the power play and has a pair of goals with the man advantage this season.
Busch is tied with Murphy for second on the team in points with 16 (nine goals). To take the next step in his development, Powers just wants to see him strengthen his legs and his core -- a natural part of the maturation for players his age.
"He went through a month there in the middle of the season where he was out of gas a little bit, just playing against bigger stronger men, but he's turned the corner and started to play really well for us," Powers said. "When he can play with pace and be bigger and stronger by just being in our strength and conditioning program, we'll be in a good place with him."
The opportunity to play against top talent has clearly accelerated Busch's development, but he is no deer in headlights in the face of stars. His hometown of Lloydminster, Alberta, which sits right on the Saskatchewan border, has produced plenty of NHL talent, including Ottawa's Clarke MacArthur, Columbus's Scott Hartnell and Washington Capitals goalie Braden Holtby, the reigning Vezina Trophy winner and a friend of the family.
"My dad actually played with Holtby's dad growing up," Busch said. "Hockey is obviously a big deal in Canada, but it's a big deal in my town."
Busch admits his early success in Division I hockey has come as a bit of surprise, but it's the feeling he has that is the greater surprise.
"I expected to play a lot and I knew there would be a lot of ups and downs, but to feel the confidence I have early on is something I might not have expected," he said. "The puck was going in for me early and I'm playing against a lot of really good players and playing big minutes so to get that exposure is huge.
"Looking at the big picture now, I'm really happy with my decision to come here. It's been a perfect fit."
TEMPE, Ariz. -- Tyler Busch couldn't hide his emotions. The Sun Devils men's hockey team was in Columbus, Ohio one week after Busch's landmark 21st birthday to take on the No. 10 Buckeyes in back-to-back games on Jan. 13-14.
While playing his first year of junior hockey for the Spruce Grove Saints of the Alberta Junior Hockey League, Busch had committed to attend Ohio State, only to back out, re-open his recruiting, and eventually land at Arizona State.
This was a big moment.
"It was something I was looking forward to since the start of the year when I saw the schedule," Busch said. "I tried not to think too much about it because I didn't want too much pressure on myself."
If it's true that the best players elevate their games in big moments, Busch's ASU career is off to a promising start. The freshman scored the game-tying goal with 26 seconds left in regulation and Wade Murphy scored the lone goal of the shootout as the Sun Devils recorded what will go down as an official tie, but unofficially represent their first win over a top-10 program: a 3-2 road win over the Buckeyes.
"We've been playing top-end teams all year and had some really good efforts and been close, but to finally get over the hump goes a long way in helping us build confidence as a group," Busch said. "It felt good getting that goal."
Busch is part of a marquee freshman class that coach Greg Powers believes will elevate the Sun Devils to another level as they prepare to eventually join a conference and establish themselves as a winning Division I program. While Powers hopes each successive class will upgrade the program further, he sees Busch as the type of talent that will make an impact for however long he hangs around the program.
"With certain kids, you can just tell they are winners," Powers said. "When he opened up his recruiting we already knew who he was because Alberta is a huge focus of our recruiting. We want to get the best kids out of western Canada and we loved how he played.
"When he was with Spruce Grove, he wore a C (for captain). He was a leader. He played a 200-foot game and he was always going to the right side of the puck. He just had that it factor. When he became available [assistant coach Alex Hicks] and I drove up from RPI [in Troy, New York] to Toronto for the Junior A Challenge to go watch him play for Canada West. He was wearing a letter for them, he helped them win a gold medal and we just stayed on him; let him know how serious we are."
Busch knew that he would have immediate opportunities to play in all situations and that has panned out at ASU. Aside from paying big minutes in 5-on-5 play, he is playing a key role on the power play and has a pair of goals with the man advantage this season.
Busch is tied with Murphy for second on the team in points with 16 (nine goals). To take the next step in his development, Powers just wants to see him strengthen his legs and his core -- a natural part of the maturation for players his age.
"He went through a month there in the middle of the season where he was out of gas a little bit, just playing against bigger stronger men, but he's turned the corner and started to play really well for us," Powers said. "When he can play with pace and be bigger and stronger by just being in our strength and conditioning program, we'll be in a good place with him."
The opportunity to play against top talent has clearly accelerated Busch's development, but he is no deer in headlights in the face of stars. His hometown of Lloydminster, Alberta, which sits right on the Saskatchewan border, has produced plenty of NHL talent, including Ottawa's Clarke MacArthur, Columbus's Scott Hartnell and Washington Capitals goalie Braden Holtby, the reigning Vezina Trophy winner and a friend of the family.
"My dad actually played with Holtby's dad growing up," Busch said. "Hockey is obviously a big deal in Canada, but it's a big deal in my town."
Busch admits his early success in Division I hockey has come as a bit of surprise, but it's the feeling he has that is the greater surprise.
"I expected to play a lot and I knew there would be a lot of ups and downs, but to feel the confidence I have early on is something I might not have expected," he said. "The puck was going in for me early and I'm playing against a lot of really good players and playing big minutes so to get that exposure is huge.
"Looking at the big picture now, I'm really happy with my decision to come here. It's been a perfect fit."