TEMPE, Ariz. -- Sun Devil Hockey started their season off strong with a 3-0 shutout win over Alaska Fairbanks Saturday night at Oceanside Ice Arena.
A fast start by the Sun Devils in the first period proved to be the difference, as ASU outshot the Nanooks 17-4 and capitalized on two early chances.
"I thought we were sharp being in our first game with a fairly young team," said head coach Greg Powers. "You could see the jitters the first few shifts and then they settled in. It was a really good effort."
Calgary Flames draft pick and freshman Demetrios Koumontzis led off his Sun Devil career with a goal in the first 10 minutes of the game. Koumontzis was at the right place at the right time, as he popped the puck in past Nanook's goaltender Anton Martinsson after a rebound came lose.
Walker's goal extends his goal streak to six-straight dating back to last season. He finished 2017-18 with eight goals in the final five games.
Daccord also had two assists last season.
"Me and Johnny have this chemistry going that started last year towards the second half of the year," Daccord said. "I was going to fire it around the boards and get back to the net and I just found Johnny, classic hanging at the far blue line going the other way and no one around him, so I figured I might as well give him the puck."
Co-captain Brinson Pasichnuk finalized the win with an empty-net goal in the final two minutes of Saturday's game.
The Sun Devils look to gain another win tomorrow against Alaska with a matinee puck drop at 3 p.m. at Oceanside Ice Arena in Tempe. Limited tickets are still available by calling 480-727-0000 or visiting thesundevils.com.
A fast start by the Sun Devils in the first period proved to be the difference, as ASU outshot the Nanooks 17-4 and capitalized on two early chances.
"I thought we were sharp being in our first game with a fairly young team," said head coach Greg Powers. "You could see the jitters the first few shifts and then they settled in. It was a really good effort."
Calgary Flames draft pick and freshman Demetrios Koumontzis led off his Sun Devil career with a goal in the first 10 minutes of the game. Koumontzis was at the right place at the right time, as he popped the puck in past Nanook's goaltender Anton Martinsson after a rebound came lose.
Less than a minute later, ASU's netminder Joey Daccord threaded the needle between two defenders to Johnny Walker who was awaiting the pass at the far blue line all alone. Walker made a quick deke before backhanding his first goal of the season, giving Daccord his first assist."I'll take that..." -@dkoumontzis, probably pic.twitter.com/xvAp1AkOwn
— Sun Devil Hockey (@SunDevilHockey) October 7, 2018
Walker's goal extends his goal streak to six-straight dating back to last season. He finished 2017-18 with eight goals in the final five games.
Daccord also had two assists last season.
??FIRST GOALIE ASSIST OF THE YEAR! ??#USCHOTop5 #SCTop10 #CawlidgeHawkey @JDac35 @Buccigross pic.twitter.com/z6f0DMa3nG
— Sun Devil Hockey (@SunDevilHockey) October 7, 2018
"Me and Johnny have this chemistry going that started last year towards the second half of the year," Daccord said. "I was going to fire it around the boards and get back to the net and I just found Johnny, classic hanging at the far blue line going the other way and no one around him, so I figured I might as well give him the puck."
Co-captain Brinson Pasichnuk finalized the win with an empty-net goal in the final two minutes of Saturday's game.
ASU tallied 34 shots against the Nanooks including eight shots coming from Walker.DUBS ONLY?? The Devils SHUT OUT the Nanooks in the season opener, 3-0 ?? pic.twitter.com/WvUVlF17dB
— Sun Devil Hockey (@SunDevilHockey) October 7, 2018
The Sun Devils look to gain another win tomorrow against Alaska with a matinee puck drop at 3 p.m. at Oceanside Ice Arena in Tempe. Limited tickets are still available by calling 480-727-0000 or visiting thesundevils.com.