(Tempe, AZ) The Sun Devils made it to the Championship Game of the Ice Breaker Invitational by beating Norte Dame 5-3 on Friday.
Tonight they faced Alaska-Fairbanks who disposed of Quinnipiac. Their mascot is the Nanook which means Polar Bear in the native Inuit language.
ASU came in at 1-2 with both of their losses came at the hands of #5 Penn State last week.
First Period
The Sun Devils got their first good scoring opportunity at the 16:33 mark when a shot in front of the goal was covered up by Alaska-Fairbanks.
There was a Nanook penalty for too many men on the ice and an ASU power play for two minutes.
The Ice Devils didn’t get many shots on goal during their power play as Alaska-Fairbanks locked d0wn their defense.
Arizona State got another two minute power play opportunity at the 14:08 on a tripping penalty by Haden Kruse for the Nonooks.
The Devils broke through at 15:26 with a power play .goal from Logan Merrel assisted by Sam Court.
ASU controlled the action on their end of the ice for the majority of the opening period with 19 shots and 12 shots on goal, edging the Nanooks with 18 shots and 10 shots on goal.
Second Period
Cruz Lucius was called for holding at 3:45 for two minutes that created the Nanook’s first power play of the game.
The Devils successfully killed off the Alaska-Fairbanks power play. Just as they returned to full strength, the Nanooks’ Dick Caelum was called for hooking setting up a two minute power play.
That quickly paid off as Kyle Smolen knocked one down at 7:09 assisted by Sam Court that extended the lead 2-0. ASU was 2-2 on the power play.
A hooking penalty on Alaska-Fairbanks Nikolayenya Fyodor and the Ice Devils had themselves another power play opportunity.
ASU finally got their first penalty for interference and a power play for the Nanooks for two minutes after returning to full strength.
Alaska-Fairbanks got on the board with their own power play goal at 14:03, but Coach Greg Powers challenged the play for a high sticking which was rejected. Chase Dafoe scored for the Nanooks with Michael Cortaro who got the assist.
ASU’s lead was cut in half 2-1.
Near the end of the second period at 19:14 Nanooks’ Braden Bernie was called for slashing that set up a two minute power play that carried over into the final period.
Each team scored in the period on power plays. The Nanooks had 28 shots that ASU’s goalie Connor Hasley saved 15.
ASU had 22 shots and Lassi Lehti saved 13 for Alaska-Fairbanks.
Third Period
Alaska-Fairbanks successfully killed of their penalty.
The paced picked up for both teams in the final period as a sense of urgency fell upon the Nanooks and Arizona State’s used their puck control offense to milk time off the clock.
Things got chippy at the 7:45 mark when there was a skirmish at the Nanooks goal and three penalties were levied. Logan Morrell from ASU was called for rouging along with Alaska-FB Michael Citara and Morrell was also penalized for embellishment.
The penalties began to add up for the Nanooks as Citara got caught for checking from behind. Neither team had been able to take advantage of power plays opportunities.
An apparent ASU goal was waved off by the officials for player continuation, but seconds later at 13:44, the Devils got their revenge as Cruz Lucius rang it up for a 3-1 lead assisted by Bennett Schimek. Lucas added
Less than two minutes later at 15:36 Cruz Lucius scored his second goal a power play goal off a from a minor bench penalty (too many players on the ice) from the Nanooks for a 4-1 lead.
Alaska-Fairbanks came right back at 16:41 Citara scored asissted by Nathan Rickey to close the gap 4-2.
Arziona State got an empty netter by Lucius for a power play hat trick and a 5-2 lead at 18:50.
The Devils ran out the clock for the Ice Breaker Invitational Championship.
Up Next
The Sun Devils travel to Sioux Falls, South Dakota for two games against Augustana University followed by two games against Miami (OH).
Arizona State returns back to Mullett Arena November 7th and 8th for two games against Colorado College.
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