Sun Devil hockey officially announced its new class of recruits, which is set to join the team for the 2016-17 season, on Wednesday.
Among the new players are three from the Alberta Junior Hockey League, three from the United States Hockey League and one from the North American Hockey League. One is from Russia, one is from Sweden, two of them share a bloodline and one of them was drafted by an NHL team.
Now, the following seven players are all committed to become Sun Devils:
Tyler Busch – Spruce Grove Saints (AJHL)
Forward - Lloydminster, Alberta
Shoots: Left
@BuschLeagueTen
Busch’s 68 points last season led the first-place Spruce Grove Saints, and tied him for seventh-most in the league. The 20-year-old only had the fourth-most goals for the Saints with 21, which may indicate that Busch will eventually be a playmaker to set up the Sun Devils’ top scorers, such as Jordan Masters.
Welcome Spruce Grove Captain Tyler Busch (@BuschLeagueTen) to 2016-17 Sun Devil Hockey! #BetheTradition pic.twitter.com/z1T4qFyB3D
— Sun Devil Hockey (@SunDevilHockey) April 13, 2016
Steenn Pasichnuk – Bonnyville Pontiacs (AJHL)
Forward - Bonnyville, Alberta
Shoots: Right
@Steenner
Steenn is listed as a right wing on the Bonnyville Pontiacs roster, and was tied for the team lead last season with eight power play goals. He’ll join his brother Brinson as a new Sun Devil, and may share the ice with him on a power play unit.
Brinson Pasichnuk – Bonnyville Pontiacs (AJHL)
Defenseman - Bonnyville, Alberta
Shoots: Left
@brindogboy
Brinson Pasichnuk will turn 19 in November, but can already boast the accolade of leading AJHL defensemen in points (65), goals (20), short-handed goals (2) and points per game (1.3). This offensive defenseman will join a blue line that said goodbye to Jordan Young but looks to welcome back Edward McGovern, Liam McGing, Joey Raats and others.
Joey Daccord – Muskegon Lumberjacks (USHL)
Goaltender - North Andover, Massachusetts
Catches: Left
@JDac35
Daccord was the starting goaltender for Muskegon last year, registering a 3.10 GAA and .904 save percentage in 48 games. His 21-20 record was ninth-best in the league, and his 2764 minutes were fourth. He was selected in the seventh round of the 2015 NHL Draft by the Ottawa Senators (199 overall), and has twice been awarded USHL Goaltender of the Week. He’ll join Sun Devil netminders Robert Levin and Ryland Pashovitz.
Jakob Stridsberg – Fairbanks Ice Dogs (NAHL)
Defenseman - Jonkoping, Sweden
Shoots: Left
@jakobstridsberg
Stridsberg hails from the southern Swedish city of Jönköping, and is coming off his second season with the Fairbanks Ice Dogs at age 21. At 6-foot-1 and 185 pounds, Stridsberg was tied for the league lead in goals (12) among defenseman and was third-most in assists (33) and points (45) of NAHL blue-liners.
Honored and excited to announce my commitment to @SunDevilHockey! Big thank you to everyone who has supported me along the way! #ForksUp
— Jakob Stridsberg (@jakobstridsberg) February 23, 2016
Brett Gruber – Green Bay Gamblers (USHL)
Forward - Appelton, Wisconsin
Shoots: Right
@BRGruber4274
Gruber scored 35 points in 60 games last year for the Gamblers, good for fifth on the team. His 10 goals and 25 assists made him a reasonably productive center, as he proved when he tallied four points in a game against the Sioux Falls Stampede back in January.
Georgy Gorodetsky – Des Moines Buccaneers (USHL)
Forward - Yekaterinburg, Russia
Shoots: Left
Gorodetsky led Buccaneer left-wingers in goals, assists and points at a 8-24-32 mark last season. The 21-year-old Russian brings value in his size, standing at 6 feet and nearly 200 pounds, according to his USHL player page. Gorodetsky is the first non-North American player to commit to ASU hockey.
Related links:
ASU hockey's Jordan Young will conclude his career where it began
After first NCAA season, ASU hockey’s poor record precedes bright future
Reach the reporter at matt.layman@asu.edu or follow @Mattjlayman on Twitter.
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