TEMPE, Ariz. -- Junior forward Johnny Walker's hat trick and sophomore goaltender Evan DeBrouwer's 33-save performance led No. 20 Sun Devil Hockey to the biggest victory in program history with a 4-1 upset over No. 4 Denver. The win marks ASU's (8-4-1) fourth win over a top-10 opponent and Denver's first loss on the road against a non-conference team since 2016.
Walker's three goal night marked his second career hat-trick and first hat-trick since Oct. 27, 2018 vs. Omaha (4 goals).
"What a great program they have, as good as it gets in college hockey, so it's a defining moment for us," said head coach Greg Powers. "But like I told the guys, as soon as we walk out the building tonight we have to be over it.
"We're going out to Gila River tomorrow and it doesn't matter who it is, the expectation is the same in the locker room to have a sweep at home and we have a chance to do that."
Tickets for Saturday's 4:30 p.m. puck drop at Gila River Arena in Glendale are still available at Ticketmaster.com or by calling 480-563-PUCK (7825).
HOW IT HAPPENED:
GAME FACTS:
Walker's three goal night marked his second career hat-trick and first hat-trick since Oct. 27, 2018 vs. Omaha (4 goals).
"What a great program they have, as good as it gets in college hockey, so it's a defining moment for us," said head coach Greg Powers. "But like I told the guys, as soon as we walk out the building tonight we have to be over it.
"We're going out to Gila River tomorrow and it doesn't matter who it is, the expectation is the same in the locker room to have a sweep at home and we have a chance to do that."
Tickets for Saturday's 4:30 p.m. puck drop at Gila River Arena in Glendale are still available at Ticketmaster.com or by calling 480-563-PUCK (7825).
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- Five minutes into the 1st period, Walker toe-dragged a Pioneer in the top right of the circle and wristed the shot bar down for a 1-0 lead.
- Ten minutes later, Walker received a lead pass from forward Jordan Sandhu, and as Denver netminder Magnus Chrona came out to play the puck, Walker did a little shake and bake to backhand the puck into the open net while drawing a tripping penalty from Chrona.
- After a scoreless middle frame, Denver cut the Devils' lead in half with 10 minutes remaining in the 3rd period.
- The Sun Devils drew a hooking penalty with three minutes left in the game as the Pioneers were about to pull their netminder. Walker capitalized on the powerplay, tipping a shot from freshman defenseman Jack Judson in front for the 3-1 cushion and completing his hat trick.
- The final nail in the coffin came off the stick of Brett Gruber, as he tallied his first goal of the season on an empty net.
GAME FACTS:
- The upset of No. 4 Denver is ASU's biggest victory to date over a ranked opponent with the last being over then-No. 6 Penn State on the road.
- The loss marked Denver's first non-conference road loss since Dec. 31, 2016 (3-1 @ Providence).
- 12-0-1 in such games since their last loss
- Denver's first non-conference regular season loss since 2017.
- Walker tallied his second career hat-trick and first since Oct. 27, 2018 vs. Omaha (4 goals).
- The Sun Devils are on a six-game unbeaten streak at Oceanside Ice Arena.
- Longest since 10 in a row from Oct. 26, 2018 to Feb. 16, 2019
- ASU currently has a three-game winning streak versus top-10 opponents.
- Sandhu tallied his third career multipoint game with two assists tonight.
- Senior forward Brett Gruber's empty net goal was his first goal of the season.