TEMPE, Ariz. -- Sun Devil Hockey announced their 2019 spring signing class on Wednesday, which currently includes six incoming student-athletes.
The class features four signees with a 4.00 ranking, according to neutralzone.net, including four forwards and two defenseman. Three signees, William Knierim, James Sanchez and Jacob Semik, all played together in the USHL for the Dubuque Fighting Saints this past season while wearing the "A" on their jersey.
"We believe this class from top to bottom has the potential to make the most immediate impact yet, as it has everything and rounds out our roster incredibly well at every position," said head coach Greg Powers. "The balance, depth, and most importantly, competition in practice created from our depth will lead to another big step forward for our program. Every single one of these players want to 'Be The Tradition' so we expect them to come right in and help us continue to enhance our culture.
"We will also add goaltending to this class and are working with admissions and our compliance office to be able to officially announce them as soon as possible."
Logan Jenuwine - 6'2", 195lbs
Forward ('98) - Romeo, Mich.
Originally committed to Western Michigan, the Michigan native leads the NAHL by double digits in points with 104, along with 60 goals for the Amarillo Bulls. In his time with Amarillo, Jenuwine surpassed Chris Brooks for the all-time goals record in a single season for the Bulls. Not only has he broken Amarillo's record, but the overall NAHL record for goals scored. Jenuwine played for three different teams in the USHL before making his way back to the NAHL. Before starting his junior career, he helped lead the Romeo High Hockey team to a state championship in 2016. Jenuwine won the Mr. Hockey Award after the 2016 season, which is awarded to the top performer in Michigan high school hockey.
"Logan is one of the most decorated and gifted goal scorers we have seen in a long time," said Powers. "His numbers prove that and he will be a welcomed addition and provide much needed scoring to our lineup."
William Knierim - 6'4", 225lbs
Forward ('98) - Skokie, Ill.
Knierim started off his NCAA career at Miami of Ohio for two seasons before going back to the USHL to play for the Dubuque Fighting Saints this past season. He played for the Fighting Saints for one season prior to his career at Miami, where he tallied 31 points (17G, 14A). In the 2018-19 season, Knierim served as an alternate captain and currently has 46 points in Dubuque. Fellow teammates James Sanchez and Jacob Semik, who also committed to ASU, sported the other "A" for Dubuque this past season with Knierim.
"Willie is just the kind of kid that makes everyone better around him," said Powers. "Aside from being the ultimate team-guy with incredibly high character, he's really found his game this year in Dubuque and gives us a big body that can score, as evidenced by his production this season. We can't wait to see him in a Sun Devil jersey."
Jacob Semik - 6'0", 183lbs
Defense ('00) - Canton, Mich.
The Sun Devils pick up another Michigan native, Jacob Semik, who was originally committed to the University of Michigan before decommitting and choosing Arizona State. The left-handed defenseman has 20 points with the Fighting Saints this season and a plus-five rating on the ice. He has played for Dubuque the past three seasons as well as spending time with the U.S National U-17 Team tallying five points in six games for the Red, White and Blue. Before coming to the USHL, Semik won the U14 National Championship with Honeybaked, whom he played two seasons with.
"Jacob is a tremendously talented defenseman that is incredibly cerebral in every zone," said Powers. "He can move the puck and make plays from the back end, and helps us round out a d-core we think is one of the best in all of college hockey."
Jax Murray - 5'9", 175lbs
Forward ('99) - Elk River, Minn.
In a matter of two seasons in the NAHL, forward Jax Murray tallied 83 points with the Fairbanks Ice Dogs as well as an additional 12 points in the postseason. Murray becomes the first Minnesota native to commit to ASU after verbally committing last summer. During Murray's high school career at Elk River High in Minnesota, he totaled 82 points (36G, 46A) in 59 games.
"Jax is another incredibly high character kid that can play up and down the lineup," said Powers. "He has the skill, speed and hockey IQ to contribute offensively, and the grit and responsibility defensively to play that role if needed as well."
James Sanchez - 6'2", 198lbs
Forward ('98) - Northbrook, Ill.
Sanchez is the third and final recruit coming from the Dubuque Fighting Saints this season for the Sun Devils, and the second-ever former USNTDP player to commit to ASU. Similar to his teammate Knierim, Sanchez has experience in college already as he played two seasons at the University of Michigan before going to Dubuque. Ironically enough, he tallied his first collegiate assist back in 2016-17 against Arizona State, and in the following season, he scored two goals against the Sun Devils. In 61 games for the Wolverines, Sanchez tallied nine goals and 12 assists. With Dubuque, Sanchez has tallied 40 points in 45 games played including 16 goals.
"James is an incredibly gifted big body with a level of skill our forward group will really benefit from," said Powers. "He's had a great year in Dubuque and will be our programs second USNTDP graduate. With his previous college experience of playing in big games for Michigan, he will be a huge addition that is capable of coming right in and making a huge impact."
Jack Judson - 6'0", 175lbs
Defenseman ('00) - White Rock, BC, Canada
Judson is the youngest signee of the class, and will be one of the youngest on the team as well with rising sophomore Demetrios Koumontzis. After verbally committing back in December 2016, Judson will finally arrive in Tempe this fall. Just this past December, he earned a spot on Canada West for the World Junior A Challenge. Judson currently sits tied for 3rd among defenseman in scoring (13 points in 20 games) in the BCHL Playoffs, while finishing 17th during the regular season with 33 points.
"Jack has been committed to us for a few years and brings a level of hockey IQ and offense to our back end that we just simply haven't had," said Powers. "He plays with an edge defensively and moves the puck at an elite level. He is going to be a great Sun Devil."
The class features four signees with a 4.00 ranking, according to neutralzone.net, including four forwards and two defenseman. Three signees, William Knierim, James Sanchez and Jacob Semik, all played together in the USHL for the Dubuque Fighting Saints this past season while wearing the "A" on their jersey.
"We believe this class from top to bottom has the potential to make the most immediate impact yet, as it has everything and rounds out our roster incredibly well at every position," said head coach Greg Powers. "The balance, depth, and most importantly, competition in practice created from our depth will lead to another big step forward for our program. Every single one of these players want to 'Be The Tradition' so we expect them to come right in and help us continue to enhance our culture.
"We will also add goaltending to this class and are working with admissions and our compliance office to be able to officially announce them as soon as possible."
Logan Jenuwine - 6'2", 195lbs
Forward ('98) - Romeo, Mich.
| SEASON | TEAM | LEAGUE | GP | G | A | P |
| 2018-19 | Amarillo Bulls | NAHL | 59 | 60 | 44 | 104 |
| Amarillo Bulls | NAHL Postseason | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
Originally committed to Western Michigan, the Michigan native leads the NAHL by double digits in points with 104, along with 60 goals for the Amarillo Bulls. In his time with Amarillo, Jenuwine surpassed Chris Brooks for the all-time goals record in a single season for the Bulls. Not only has he broken Amarillo's record, but the overall NAHL record for goals scored. Jenuwine played for three different teams in the USHL before making his way back to the NAHL. Before starting his junior career, he helped lead the Romeo High Hockey team to a state championship in 2016. Jenuwine won the Mr. Hockey Award after the 2016 season, which is awarded to the top performer in Michigan high school hockey.
"Logan is one of the most decorated and gifted goal scorers we have seen in a long time," said Powers. "His numbers prove that and he will be a welcomed addition and provide much needed scoring to our lineup."
William Knierim - 6'4", 225lbs
Forward ('98) - Skokie, Ill.
| SEASON | TEAM | LEAGUE | GP | G | A | P |
| 2018-19 | Dubuque Fighting Saints "A" | USHL | 60 | 18 | 29 | 47 |
| Dubuque Fighting Saints "A" | USHL Postseason | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
Knierim started off his NCAA career at Miami of Ohio for two seasons before going back to the USHL to play for the Dubuque Fighting Saints this past season. He played for the Fighting Saints for one season prior to his career at Miami, where he tallied 31 points (17G, 14A). In the 2018-19 season, Knierim served as an alternate captain and currently has 46 points in Dubuque. Fellow teammates James Sanchez and Jacob Semik, who also committed to ASU, sported the other "A" for Dubuque this past season with Knierim.
"Willie is just the kind of kid that makes everyone better around him," said Powers. "Aside from being the ultimate team-guy with incredibly high character, he's really found his game this year in Dubuque and gives us a big body that can score, as evidenced by his production this season. We can't wait to see him in a Sun Devil jersey."
Jacob Semik - 6'0", 183lbs
Defense ('00) - Canton, Mich.
| SEASON | TEAM | LEAGUE | GP | G | A | P |
| 2018-19 | Dubuque Fighting Saints "A" | USHL | 59 | 2 | 18 | 20 |
| Dubuque Fighting Saints "A" | USHL Postseason | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
The Sun Devils pick up another Michigan native, Jacob Semik, who was originally committed to the University of Michigan before decommitting and choosing Arizona State. The left-handed defenseman has 20 points with the Fighting Saints this season and a plus-five rating on the ice. He has played for Dubuque the past three seasons as well as spending time with the U.S National U-17 Team tallying five points in six games for the Red, White and Blue. Before coming to the USHL, Semik won the U14 National Championship with Honeybaked, whom he played two seasons with.
"Jacob is a tremendously talented defenseman that is incredibly cerebral in every zone," said Powers. "He can move the puck and make plays from the back end, and helps us round out a d-core we think is one of the best in all of college hockey."
Jax Murray - 5'9", 175lbs
Forward ('99) - Elk River, Minn.
| SEASON | TEAM | LEAGUE | GP | G | A | P |
| 2018-19 | Fairbanks Ice Dogs | NAHL | 57 | 20 | 23 | 43 |
| Fairbanks Ice Dogs | NAHL Postseason | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
In a matter of two seasons in the NAHL, forward Jax Murray tallied 83 points with the Fairbanks Ice Dogs as well as an additional 12 points in the postseason. Murray becomes the first Minnesota native to commit to ASU after verbally committing last summer. During Murray's high school career at Elk River High in Minnesota, he totaled 82 points (36G, 46A) in 59 games.
"Jax is another incredibly high character kid that can play up and down the lineup," said Powers. "He has the skill, speed and hockey IQ to contribute offensively, and the grit and responsibility defensively to play that role if needed as well."
James Sanchez - 6'2", 198lbs
Forward ('98) - Northbrook, Ill.
| SEASON | TEAM | LEAGUE | GP | G | A | P |
| 2018-19 | Dubuque Fighting Saints "A" | USHL | 45 | 16 | 24 | 40 |
Sanchez is the third and final recruit coming from the Dubuque Fighting Saints this season for the Sun Devils, and the second-ever former USNTDP player to commit to ASU. Similar to his teammate Knierim, Sanchez has experience in college already as he played two seasons at the University of Michigan before going to Dubuque. Ironically enough, he tallied his first collegiate assist back in 2016-17 against Arizona State, and in the following season, he scored two goals against the Sun Devils. In 61 games for the Wolverines, Sanchez tallied nine goals and 12 assists. With Dubuque, Sanchez has tallied 40 points in 45 games played including 16 goals.
"James is an incredibly gifted big body with a level of skill our forward group will really benefit from," said Powers. "He's had a great year in Dubuque and will be our programs second USNTDP graduate. With his previous college experience of playing in big games for Michigan, he will be a huge addition that is capable of coming right in and making a huge impact."
Jack Judson - 6'0", 175lbs
Defenseman ('00) - White Rock, BC, Canada
| SEASON | TEAM | LEAGUE | GP | G | A | P |
| 2018-19 | Vernon Vipers | BCHL | 50 | 7 | 26 | 33 |
| Vernon Vipers | BCHL Postseason | 20 | 4 | 9 | 13 |
"Jack has been committed to us for a few years and brings a level of hockey IQ and offense to our back end that we just simply haven't had," said Powers. "He plays with an edge defensively and moves the puck at an elite level. He is going to be a great Sun Devil."