PLYMOUTH, Mich. – Four seniors and the 2016-17 men's ice hockey team put the icing on the cake of their first, full NCAA season with a 6-3 victory over the U.S. National U-18 Development Team at USA Hockey Arena on Saturday night.
In fitting fashion, senior Robert Levin made 34 saves and senior forward Ryan Belonger netted the eventual game-winning goal in their final games wearing the maroon and gold.
"I'm so proud of our guys," said head coach Greg Powers. "What a great exclamation point on what we think is a really good season to get our program heading in the right direction. Couldn't be happier for the way this ended for our seniors. It's poetic justice for some great kids and great all-time Sun Devils.
"Ryan Belonger obviously scored a goal in the third to help extend a lead. Rob Levin had maybe the best game he's played all year and in his career – to end that way against this team and get a win, that kid deserves it. He deserves that game, that win and that game puck. We're going to miss him very much."
After a back and forth start to the first period, the Sun Devils (10-19-3) got on the board first, as sophomore forward Jack Rowe capitalized on a stretch pass from freshman defenseman Jakob Stridsberg. With a man draped over his right shoulder, Rowe wristed one passed USA goalie Dylan St. Cyr for the 1-0 lead with three minutes left in the first.
Before the first frame came to an end, USA's Scott Reedy recorded the first of his three goals on the night with a power-play tally in the final two minutes. That would be the final time Team USA tied the game.
The second period belonged to the Devils, as freshman Tyler Busch tallied his third goal of the series on a highlight-reel blast from the top of the left circle. Busch skated into the zone, wound up, and fired a laser shortside over the shoulder of St. Cyr.
Nearly four minutes later, fellow freshman Brinson Pasichnuk nearly reenacted the exact same shot. Sophomore forward Anthony Croston fed Brinson a drop pass from the top of the left circle, basically putting it on a tee for a blast that St. Cyr never saw. The Devils lead was extended to 3-1 entering intermission.
Six minutes into the third period, Belonger buried his first goal since Jan. 20 and in fitting fashion. Jack Rowe again fired a quality chance from between the circles with the rebound ricocheting off the end board and right to the near post for the tap in to make it 4-1.
Another memorable moment happened for sophomore Liam McGing, as he scored his first goal of the season on a beautiful snipe 11 minutes into the 3rd period. Upon entering the zone, freshman Riley Simpson fed sophomore Joe Lappin, who then one-touched one to McGing for the one-timer from between the circles.
Despite being down big, Team USA never quit, tallying two between the 13 and 19 minute marks to bring the game back within two. This came among at least five game-saving, stellar saves from Levin to keep the game out of reach.
With 1:30 left in the game, Team USA pulled St. Cyr for the extra attacker and Croston made them pay with the empty-net goal to seal the game at 6-3.
While the game doesn't count towards team stats or overall record, the win becomes the perfect ending to a historical first, full NCAA season.
"We took a huge step in the right direction this year," said Powers. "We started out with a young inexperienced group that played against an incredibly tough schedule and we cut our teeth and learned everything the hard way. As soon as the new year hit, the guys really bought in to how we need to play and it showed. We have some huge wins that this program can hang its hat on and catapult into the future with."
The Devils now enter their second NCAA offseason with the No. 17 recruiting class in the country arriving for the 2017-18 season.
The next event on the schedule is spring signing day on April 12.
In fitting fashion, senior Robert Levin made 34 saves and senior forward Ryan Belonger netted the eventual game-winning goal in their final games wearing the maroon and gold.
"I'm so proud of our guys," said head coach Greg Powers. "What a great exclamation point on what we think is a really good season to get our program heading in the right direction. Couldn't be happier for the way this ended for our seniors. It's poetic justice for some great kids and great all-time Sun Devils.
"Ryan Belonger obviously scored a goal in the third to help extend a lead. Rob Levin had maybe the best game he's played all year and in his career – to end that way against this team and get a win, that kid deserves it. He deserves that game, that win and that game puck. We're going to miss him very much."
After a back and forth start to the first period, the Sun Devils (10-19-3) got on the board first, as sophomore forward Jack Rowe capitalized on a stretch pass from freshman defenseman Jakob Stridsberg. With a man draped over his right shoulder, Rowe wristed one passed USA goalie Dylan St. Cyr for the 1-0 lead with three minutes left in the first.
Before the first frame came to an end, USA's Scott Reedy recorded the first of his three goals on the night with a power-play tally in the final two minutes. That would be the final time Team USA tied the game.
The second period belonged to the Devils, as freshman Tyler Busch tallied his third goal of the series on a highlight-reel blast from the top of the left circle. Busch skated into the zone, wound up, and fired a laser shortside over the shoulder of St. Cyr.
Bomb #1 courtesy of @BuschLeagueTen! #ASUvsUSA pic.twitter.com/DbprbwHE1C
— Sun Devil Hockey (@SunDevilHockey) February 26, 2017
Nearly four minutes later, fellow freshman Brinson Pasichnuk nearly reenacted the exact same shot. Sophomore forward Anthony Croston fed Brinson a drop pass from the top of the left circle, basically putting it on a tee for a blast that St. Cyr never saw. The Devils lead was extended to 3-1 entering intermission.
Bomb #2 courtesy of @brindogboy! #ASUvsUSA pic.twitter.com/aS8FUe04CW
— Sun Devil Hockey (@SunDevilHockey) February 26, 2017
Six minutes into the third period, Belonger buried his first goal since Jan. 20 and in fitting fashion. Jack Rowe again fired a quality chance from between the circles with the rebound ricocheting off the end board and right to the near post for the tap in to make it 4-1.
Another memorable moment happened for sophomore Liam McGing, as he scored his first goal of the season on a beautiful snipe 11 minutes into the 3rd period. Upon entering the zone, freshman Riley Simpson fed sophomore Joe Lappin, who then one-touched one to McGing for the one-timer from between the circles.
Despite being down big, Team USA never quit, tallying two between the 13 and 19 minute marks to bring the game back within two. This came among at least five game-saving, stellar saves from Levin to keep the game out of reach.
With 1:30 left in the game, Team USA pulled St. Cyr for the extra attacker and Croston made them pay with the empty-net goal to seal the game at 6-3.
While the game doesn't count towards team stats or overall record, the win becomes the perfect ending to a historical first, full NCAA season.
"We took a huge step in the right direction this year," said Powers. "We started out with a young inexperienced group that played against an incredibly tough schedule and we cut our teeth and learned everything the hard way. As soon as the new year hit, the guys really bought in to how we need to play and it showed. We have some huge wins that this program can hang its hat on and catapult into the future with."
The Devils now enter their second NCAA offseason with the No. 17 recruiting class in the country arriving for the 2017-18 season.
The next event on the schedule is spring signing day on April 12.