The Arizona State Sun Devils jumped out to an early lead against the Michigan Tech Huskies on their way to claiming the inaugural Ice Vegas Invitational championship.

Brinson Pasichnuk recorded a goal and two assists in ASU’s 7-3 thrashing of Northern Michigan Friday night before adding two more goals for a 3-2 victory over Tech in the championship game. The sophomore was crowned tournament MVP.

Pasichnuk opened the scoring after he stripped the puck at his own blue line and scored on a breakaway with each team down a man.

.@SunDevilHockey scores first four minutes into the first period against @mtuhky @IceVegasInv! pic.twitter.com/eDOW7ts9eA

— FloHockey (@FloHockey) January 7, 2018

It was one of three breakaways the Huskies defense allowed in the first ten minutes.

The Huskies tried to paw their way back in, but every time they appeared to be gaining momentum, the Sun Devils were sure to kill it.

At the start of the second, the refreshed and seemingly refocused Huskies began pushing as Sun Devils netminder, Joey Daccord, turned it all aside.

Then, just 2:28 into the second frame, Daccord even added to the offense. He sent a pass up to Anthony Croston, and he relayed it to Johnny Walker, who fired a laser into the top corner to extend the lead to 2-0.

A few minutes later and moments after a diving Dane Birks denied Croston aiming for one of his own, the junior found Pasichnuk, who sent a squeaker between Devin Kero’s legs for his second of the game.

Huskies coach Joe Shawhan sent Patrick Munson in for Kero following the third goal, but by then, ASU began protecting the three-goal lead.

Anddddd the score tips even further in @SunDevilHockey’s favor, 3-0, after a five-hole goal.

Munson just skated out to replace Kero in net for @mtuhky.@IceVegasInv pic.twitter.com/h9pkoENQLa

— FloHockey (@FloHockey) January 7, 2018

Tech came out hard again in the third. Daccord made a great save on a breakaway from Brent Baltus. Minutes later a swift-maneuvering Jake Jackson found Dylan Stamen in front, who got the Huskies on the board with a powerplay goal to make it 3-1.

.@mtuhky SCORES!!!

The Huskies have 13 minutes to make up a two-point deficit against @SunDevilHockey.@IceVegasInv pic.twitter.com/VkTDRQsRBE

— FloHockey (@FloHockey) January 7, 2018

With consistent pressure, Greyson Reitmeier picked up the rebound from a Justin Misiak wraparound attempt, making it a one-goal game with 3:55 to go.

The Huskies continued to amount chances, but Daccord stood tall, backstopping the young, growing Sun Devils to their first tournament championship.

YOUR INAUGURAL @IceVegasInv CHAMPIONS, @SunDevilHockey!!!!!!! #ForksUp pic.twitter.com/RsakIA19JO

— FloHockey (@FloHockey) January 7, 2018

By Jacob Messing

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