ASU men's hockey entered a new era of play last year in their first full season as a Division I team. This promotion opened up new recruiting territory, bringing two Latvian-born players to ASU's squad.
Those players are freshman defenseman Gvido Jansons and forward Filips Buncis, both who were born in Latvia before being recruited to ASU from their respective North American Hockey League teams in Pennsylvania.
Buncis may currently be defined by his origins, but that will soon change as he spends more time on the ice with ASU.
“Filips is a really heavy 200-foot center,” head coach Greg Powers said. “He is really difficult to play against in every zone and very reliable in all three zones. He will really help us on face-offs as well.”
Buncis' nationality is not on Powers' radar, nor is it something Buncis is focused on. Powers' number one priority is his team and how it stacks up against the competition.
“We’re really like brothers right now and it's only been a couple of months,” Buncis said. “It’s going to be a really good year. I really want to prove to all the other hockey schools that we are a team. We can beat teams that are supposedly good.”
The pressure will be on for the Sun Devils, as they will compete against those formidable opponents throughout the entire season.
However, Buncis has been playing hockey since he was five years old and said his experience allows him to always be prepared.
“It depends on how the game goes,” Buncis said. “Sometimes, if things don’t go your way and you just don’t get those bounces, then you just put your head down and just work.”
The centerman has a solid background, as he spent three seasons with the NAHL’s Johnstown Tomahawks, which included two trips to the postseason.
Additionally, Buncis was a part of the Latvian team, which was promoted up to the top division after taking first in the 2016 International Ice Hockey Federation Junior Hockey Championships.
“Whenever you face the big crowd, or important moments of the game, it can push on your nerves a little bit, but I enjoy those moments,” Buncis said. “I live for that, I love to be in those situations when you have that important face off or have to block the shot — whatever it takes.”
