Arizona State University got the win it wanted at the inaugural Great Northwest Hockey Showcase.
The No. 1 team in the American Collegiate hockey league upset the tournament hosts 5-3 before an estimated crowd of 800 supporters at the Bill Copeland Sports Centre on Saturday.
Arizona State player of the game Ryan Clark of Ohio potted a pair of goals for the Sun Devils, including a pivotal 3-1 marker on a back hand in the opening minutes of the third period.
Danny McAuliffe from Phoenix got the eventual game-winner on a tap-in off a nice cross-ice pass from Pennsylvania native Brian McGinty.
"We just wanted to get one win out here," said freshman Arizona State forward Stephen Collins, a New York product who finished off another McGinty offering late in the final frame. "It's good to experience different leagues and see how the Canadians play."
SFU player of the game, Jono Ceci, a former Grandview Steelers rookie, led all scorers with a three-point night.
Ceci's first goal came off a faceoff four seconds after Arizona's 2-0 goal by Vancouverite Dan Styrna late in the middle frame.
SFU's Brenden Sylvester closed the deficit to 4-2 on a power-play, assisted by Ben Van Lare and Ceci at 7: 31. Later in the period, Trent Murdoch also scored for SFU on a power play. Ceci and captain Christopher
Hoe chipped in with helpers on the club's final goal.
The Clan were widely outshot in the contest, 4425 by the Sun Devils.
On Friday, Arizona State was beaten 8-2 by the University of British Columbia.
SFU blanked the University of Oklahoma 40 in Friday's late matchup.
"Credit Arizona State - they're a very quick transition team, and we didn't make the adjustments and we weren't as good as we should have been tonight," said SFU head coach Mark Coletta.
But overall, Coletta was happy with how the first-ever showcase played out.
"We'll see where we go from here," he said. "Eventually, we'd like to grow this where there is a championship game on Saturday night."
