BEIJING, China – After suffering a 5-4 overtime loss in game two of the Fu Xing Cup, the Sun Devils bounced back with a 3-2 overtime victory in game three against Yermak Angarsk (VHL) at AoZhong Ice Sports Club on Monday night.
With 1:25 remaining in the 3-on-3 overtime, junior forward Johnny Walker crashed the slot and took a backhanded pass from new junior forward James Sanchez before dangling the goaltender and punching it in the open net for the win. It was Walker's second goal of the game.
"I really feel like our guys gritted out a great effort," said head coach Greg Powers. "We're proud of them. That was a really good team from Russia that we played full of professional hockey players, and our guys grinded it out, stuck with it with some interesting calls and it was an exciting win. We now control our own destiny and that's what we wanted."
Like they have in all three games thus far, the Sun Devils opened up the scoring early in the first period. Less than two minutes into the opening frame, sophomore forward Demetrios Koumontzis followed his shot and tucked a wrap around for the 1-0 lead.
In the second, after Yermak tied the game up early in the period, Koumontzis picked up his second point of the game finding Walker backdoor for a quick tap in and the 2-1 lead.
Again in the early minutes of the third period, Yermak tied the game up again, eventually resulting in overtime for the second-straight game.
This time, Walker helped his team prevail.
The Sun Devils are now 2-0-1 in the tournament and control their destiny going into Tuesday with a chance to make the championship game on Wednesday. ASU takes on KRS-ORG (VHL) on Tuesday at 3 p.m. XJT / 12 a.m. MST.
Peter Zhong Makes (More) Friends in Beijing
Prior to Monday night's game, Sun Devil redshirt freshman and Beijing native Peter Zhong participated in the NHL's youth camp featuring Washington Capitals' forward and NHL superstar Alex Ovechkin at Shougang Ice Arena. Peter set up Ovechkin for his signature one-time slapshots, and even exchanged jerseys with the NHL All-Star after the camp.
With 1:25 remaining in the 3-on-3 overtime, junior forward Johnny Walker crashed the slot and took a backhanded pass from new junior forward James Sanchez before dangling the goaltender and punching it in the open net for the win. It was Walker's second goal of the game.
"I really feel like our guys gritted out a great effort," said head coach Greg Powers. "We're proud of them. That was a really good team from Russia that we played full of professional hockey players, and our guys grinded it out, stuck with it with some interesting calls and it was an exciting win. We now control our own destiny and that's what we wanted."
Like they have in all three games thus far, the Sun Devils opened up the scoring early in the first period. Less than two minutes into the opening frame, sophomore forward Demetrios Koumontzis followed his shot and tucked a wrap around for the 1-0 lead.
In the second, after Yermak tied the game up early in the period, Koumontzis picked up his second point of the game finding Walker backdoor for a quick tap in and the 2-1 lead.
Again in the early minutes of the third period, Yermak tied the game up again, eventually resulting in overtime for the second-straight game.
This time, Walker helped his team prevail.
The Sun Devils are now 2-0-1 in the tournament and control their destiny going into Tuesday with a chance to make the championship game on Wednesday. ASU takes on KRS-ORG (VHL) on Tuesday at 3 p.m. XJT / 12 a.m. MST.
Peter Zhong Makes (More) Friends in Beijing
Prior to Monday night's game, Sun Devil redshirt freshman and Beijing native Peter Zhong participated in the NHL's youth camp featuring Washington Capitals' forward and NHL superstar Alex Ovechkin at Shougang Ice Arena. Peter set up Ovechkin for his signature one-time slapshots, and even exchanged jerseys with the NHL All-Star after the camp.