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21 N O V. / D E C . 2 0 2 3 | M H J ON L I N E . C O M points (20 goals, 18 assists) in his sophomore and junior seasons respectively. He signed with the Buffalo Sabres, who acquired his rights from L.A., after his junior year in 2015-16, appearing in 7 games and registering 1 goal and 1 assist. From that point on, Fasching's hockey career was one of ups and downs—literally. "It's a difficult job to go from college to pro," said Fasching, who totaled 22 points in 87 NHL games from 2015 up until this season. "I was 21 when I started my first couple of NHL games. Looking back, it 's crazy to think that I was just a little kid. It's a tremendous jump. You're on your own with a bunch of grown men. Guys who are a lot stronger and a lot more mentally mature. It's a difficult task for sure." The next eight seasons, Fasching would spend time moving bet ween the NHL and American Hockey League, along with movement amongst organizations. A fter two years in Buffalo, he was traded to the Arizona Coyotes, where he continued to bounce up and down from the minors. In 2022-23, Fasching opted to test out free agency, signing a one-year, two-way contract with the Islanders. It led him to a breakout year, solidifying a spot in an NHL lineup for 49 games and amassing 10 goals and 9 assists in the process. To go from being one of the best young players in his age group to an NHL player trying to find his footing was a good dose of adversity for Fasching. "I didn't face maybe as much adversity as I needed," he explained. "I was, for the most part, always on the A teams. I was pretty big for my age growing up, so that gave me a little bit of a physical advantage as well. So to be facing that in my mid- to late-20s and working to get on that top team was differ- ent. It was about finding ways to be mentally tough, and how to react to those situations. It's an invaluable skill I've learned. "I wasn't a first-round draft pick, or a highly sought-after free agent necessarily, but I certainly did think my time in the American League would be shorter than it was. But everything happens for a reason, and I'm just thrilled to be where I am today and keep moving forward." Fasching's family has grown to include a wife and 1-year-old daughter, Nora, who like his parents and brother and sister actively cheer him on as he continues to become a mainstay with the Islanders. He even got a chance to play with his childhood hero, Zach Parise. "He's a hard-working player," Parise told nhl.com. "He's been in the league for a little while, so to see him finally find a niche here and play well and thrive and succeed is great." For Fasching, he's still just trying to be a hockey player. "I've always felt I could contribute to an NHL team," said Fasching. "Being in the minors, I knew that I would work my way up to where I am today. To be able to do that on a regularly basis is all I was looking for. It feels great to be there." Jessi Pierce is a freelance writer covering the NHL and hockey in Minnesota. She hosts the hockey-centric Bardown Beauties Podcast and can be followed on Twitter @jessi_pierce. 49 GAMES PLAYED 10 9 GOALS ASSISTS 19 * 2 0 2 2 - 2 3 S E A S O N TOTAL POINTS Photos / Getty Images, Fasching Family, Gopher Athletics Fasching celebrates with his boyhood idol and fellow Minnesota native Zach Parise.