Sanchez Signs AHL Deal with Hartford
TEMPE, Ariz. -- Sun Devil Hockey senior forward James Sanchez agreed to terms on an AHL deal with the Hartford Wolf Pack -- minor league affiliate of the New York Rangers -- on Sunday, March 7.
In his two years as a Sun Devil, Sanchez finished with 15 goals and 41 assists in 62 games played. In 2019-20, the Illinois-native led the Sun Devils in scoring with 40 points, becoming the first in program history to reach the 40-point milestone in a season. He remains the only player in program history to do so.
"We couldn't be more proud of James for earning this opportunity," said head coach Greg Powers. "We challenge every player who comes to our program to leave it better than they found, and James did just that. We look forward to supporting him through the next step in his hockey career."
"It's something you're always working towards and trying to get any chance to continue your hockey career after college. It was obviously exciting for me and my family. We're all just super excited for the next step.
Sanchez becomes the fifth Sun Devil in the last year to sign a professional contract, joining Brinson Pasichnuk (San Jose Sharks/San Jose Barracuda), Josh Maniscalco (Pittsburgh Penguins/Wilkes-Barre Penguins), Steenn Pasichnuk (San Jose Barracuda) and Tyler Busch (Cincinnati Cyclones). He is the sixth Sun Devil in program history to sign a non-NHL professional contract, joining Steenn Pasichnuk, Tyler Busch, Jake Clifford, David Norris, Robbie Baillargeon and Wade Murphy.
More Quotes from James:
"Coming in, they just made it such a fun and easy two years here. Even my roommates, it's tough leaving them but they're excited for me and I'll see them soon enough this summer. We'll always be in touch and lifelong friends." -Sanchez on his two years at ASU
"Coming in here and now leaving, it's night and day becoming more of a man, maturing more and becoming a different player. Especially this year, just living on the road with our team, we became so close and made life-long friends. Looking back, I would do this whole travel thing all over again just because it seemed like it was taking forever, but once you look back on it, it's a quick trip. It was so much fun." -Sanchez on how he's evolved this season and in two years
"I think just knowing our team and who we are and what we're about, I'm not shocked we were able to grind through it and be the only team to do it. Everybody is tough physically and mentally, so everyone was prepared going into the uncertainty of the grind, but everyone was physically adn mentally prepared for what was coming. There should be no shock that we went with the "Road Warriors" all year and that's what we were. It was a fun year, long and tough, but we got through it and everyone was buying in." -Sanchez on the team finishing the all-road season without being the cause of any game cancellations