This is a brief feature story about a college guy, who in two-plus years, found religion and managed to transform himself from a hard-partying jock with severe depression issues to an honors student, team captain, married man and future San Jose Sharks defenseman. Heck, he was even a Hobey Baker nominee for most outstanding college hockey player.
It would be a dramatic understatement to declare Brinson Pasichnuk’s life is pretty good these days. In his final home game for Arizona State University he tallied a hat-trick. NHL general managers were very much interested, some with guarantees of an immediate roster spot. He’s happily married, secure in his life and feeling most comfortable.
Prior to this, times were tough, life was not good. Pasichnuk was a very talented hockey player who could not identify his purpose in life. Things would go dark on him and he felt hopeless in figuring out this black cloud hovering over him. His sophomore year was particularly disturbing, with the young Ukrainian attempting to explain to himself why he was so unhappy and sad. An experienced hunter, he was afraid to go on family hunting expeditions because he was too scared to hold a gun in his hands.
Around that time Pasichnuk experienced a chance meeting with a fellow student on campus which led him to explore spirituality. Moments of intense depression had him praying for a sign, a divine intervention, of emerging from his dark cloud. Staying out late and a party scene was one way of coping with the mental anguish, playing hockey another. Yet there wasn’t much enjoyment or fulfillment in either activity and, deep down inside, he realized he had more to offer as a person and a player. A couple of days later he met Halle Johnson, an ASU volleyball player (now his wife), and one week after that he attended a Christian event that completely changed his life. He concluded something was pushing at his heart and the solution to his problems was to allow God into his heart and change aspects of his life requiring change.
It would seem this young man does not have a problem in making serious life decisions. At age 18 he de-committed from the University of Vermont to join ASU, which was about to begin its first season as a full-time Division I program in 2016. Arizona State promised his older brother, Steenn, a spot on the team, while Vermont did not. The two graduate together this year and will be part of the school’s legacy as the hockey program’s pioneers. Around age 20 he found his faith, and at 21 he asked Johnson to marry him.
Religion is not the only answer to solving one’s mental health issues. It did work for Pasichnuk – minus more traditional avenues like medication and/or counseling. He successfully found a renewed purpose in life, believing God has a different plan for everyone. People are destined to go through certain travails as Pasichnuk was meant to live through years of depression because, without it, he would have never made his connection with God.
Pasichnuk arrived at Arizona State as a very immature, true freshman. He was eligible to be drafted into the NHL after his first season, but was passed over by the entire league. This has eventually worked in his favor as, having concluded his four-year career, he was in a position to accept NHL offers as a college free agent in 2020. He’s drawn pro interest in the past, having attended four NHL development camps with Montreal, Minnesota, Arizona and the San Jose Sharks. He could have signed a pro deal after his junior year, but made one of those serious life decisions to return for his senior year for two reasons: try to win a national championship and be with his new wife during their first year of marriage.
At 5-foot-10, 208 pounds, he’s a bit on the short side, but is solid at both ends of the ice, is a strong puck-handler and can shoot from the point. Whereas he used to be an agitator who spent more time pestering his opponents rather than playing hockey, he’s now more of an offensive threat and a reliable leader. A mere 18 penalty minutes through 36 games in 2019-2020 with ASU compares to 161 penalty minutes his last year in the Alberta Junior A League.
He has a solid build for an NHL defenseman, strong like a fire hydrant, and he averaged over 28 minutes of ice time per game. The night he became the first Sun Devil player to reach 100 career points, he scored on a blast from the blue line. The physical tools are present and, with continued development, Pasichnuk can be an impactful NHL player.
Over the past couple of years he has also demonstrated his mental strength. The spring of 2020 saw him continue a journey that has made him a strong person on and off the ice.
Agrees to terms with Sharks
Pasichnuk made a lasting mark in Tempe, Ariz., coming on board a fledgling Division I program in 2016 and helping it grow into this year’s 13th ranked college hockey school in the country. His compete level and defensive awareness indicate his size is not a detriment, although there are some doubts about his skating and how that might deter his play when he has the puck with less time and space to operate.
All told, the San Jose Sharks were impressed to the point of offering Pasichnuk a two-year entry-level contract the first week of April 2020. He was waiting to see how the rest of the 2019-2020 NHL season would play out before officially signing the deal.
Pasichnuk has had a relationship with the Sharks for well over a year, having attended their 2019 development camp when he was first offered a contract. The team promised they would respect his wishes to return to ASU for his senior year and still honor their offer of a future contract. This further cemented the relationship between San Jose and their aspiring prospect. Word was the organization planned on signing brother Steenn to a minor league deal, allowing the siblings to potentially keep playing together. The presence of their AHL affiliate (Barricudas) also in the same city makes it easier on his wife – should Brinson Pasichnuk not make the big club, the couple would still reside in San Jose.
Pasichnuk was very impressed with members of the team’s front office and then-assistant coach Bob Boughner (now head coach). He referred to them as unbelievable human beings, who made the effort to get to know him away from the rink as well.
It is fair to say all parties involved did not lack true character.
PASICHNUK POSTSCRIPT: In 136 NCAA games with Arizona State Brinson Pasichnuk scored 39 goals and 68 assists for 107 points. In 2017-2018 he finished first in team scoring, was second in 2018-2019 and third in 2019-2020. He recorded a hat-trick on Senior Night, his final game on home ice. In 2019, he scored ASU’s first-ever NCAA tournament goal. His 37 points this past season were third best among all defensemen in the nation.
Ihor Stelmach may be reached at [email protected].