Arizona State made history once again on Aug. 7, winning the Fu Xing Cup for their first international tournament championship and adding another trophy to their case.

Junior forward, 2018-19 NCAA leading goal scorer and Phoenix native Johnny Walker netted a natural hat trick for seven goals in five games while graduate transfer goaltender Max Prawdzik made 33 saves on 34 shots for the 6-1 victory over the Kunlun Red Star at Ao Zhong Ice Sports Club in Beijing.

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“We knew we had to come out with a really strong effort tonight and we did just that,” said ASU head coach Greg Powers. “That was easily our best game of the tournament and we needed everyone including our goalie. This has been a tremendous experience and we thank all the great people who have made this happen.”

It started right out of the gate, as freshman Logan Jenuwine wristed a quick shot under the glove of KRS goalie Paris O’Brien for the 1-0 lead.

Just before the end of the first period, senior defenseman Brinson Pasichnuk blasted a shot from the top of the zone that found its way short side for the 2-0 lead.

After the Red Star cut the deficit in half halfway through the second period, Walker took over with the third, fourth and fifth goals in the game.

In the final minutes, sophomore forward PJ Marrocco buried his first goal of the weekend to make it 6-1.

The Sun Devils outshot Kunlun 45-34 – the smallest margin of the five games. In the five games, ASU averaged just over four goals per game, and outscored their opponents 21-12. They did not suffer a loss in regulation, finishing 4-0-1.

Prawdzik won all three games he saw between the pipes on the weekend, saving 85 of the 91 shots he faced for a .934 save percentage and 1.96 goals-against average.

Photo/Sun Devil Athletics

(Aug. 19, 2019)