Brinson Pasichnuk has experienced the highs and lows that come with sports, inside and outside the game.

The difference is that he is now learning to live in the stability that a relationship with Christ brings, while pursuing his professional hockey dreams at Arizona State University alongside his brother and teammate, Steenn.

The sons of Mike and Kathi Pasichnuk, the brothers grew up in Bonnyville, Alberta, a town of less than 10,000 people approximately a seven-hour drive north of the Montana border.

Steenn, 23, is Brinson’s elder by three years, but it became apparent early on that both brothers had a knack for the game of hockey, and they dreamed of playing together.

That goal was realized when they played together for their hometown team, the Pontiacs, in the Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL).

“Playing together in junior was always a goal for us, for sure. We had always talked about it and wanted to do it, so it was a dream for our parents and us when that happened,” Steen said.

Steenn Pasichnuk (Photo courtesy of ASU Athletics)

Steen joined the team at the end of the 2012-13 season, and Brinson joined at the conclusion of the 2013-14 season. A winger, Steen registered 105 points in three-plus seasons, while Brinson, a defenseman, posted 95 points in two-plus seasons and led the league in defenseman scoring in 2015-16, with 65 points in 52 games including 20 goals.

While in junior, Brinson played in the World Junior ‘A’ Championship, was named in the NHL Central Scouting Report, and was the only AJHL player named to the NHL prospects list during the 2016-17 season.

The brothers had aspirations to play college hockey, but it looked likely that their days as teammates would end in junior.

Steenn says the thought of playing together in college hatched when he began receiving interest from schools during his 20-year-old season in Bonnyville, including Arizona State.

“Brinson just said, ‘Let’s play together,’ and it escalated from there pretty quick,” Steenn said. “It was a dream come true for us to stay together and play college hockey together, and for our parents who can come down and watch both of us.”

They joined ASU for the 2016-17 season, which was just the program’s second season playing a split schedule in both the ACHA Div. 1 and NCAA Div. 1 as the program begins the transition to achieve full NCAA Div. 1 status.

In addition to the obvious difference in climate from central Alberta and the non-traditional hockey market of Tempe, Ariz., there has also been the setting for a transformative change in the way Brinson approaches both life and hockey.

“My identity has shifted from ‘I’m a hockey player at ASU who believes in God’ to ‘I’m a follower of God who plays hockey,’” he said. “It’s done a complete 180 from hockey being my life and God being a part of it, to God being my whole life and hockey being a part of it.”

Although college life and hockey filled most of the time and thoughts for Brinson and Steenn when they arrived in Tempe, they still had faith consciousness.

“When we got to ASU, we were still going [to church] just because we thought we should,” Steenn said. “It wasn’t until this year that we started doing some Bible studies with our church and really getting to know God more, [and] it felt right, that our faith had a purpose.”

Steenn recalls a friend, Nick Parkos, inviting the brothers to an Easter church service during their freshman year in 2017.

“That was like God reaching out to us and saying, ‘I’m here, I care, I never left you guys,’” Steen said. “That was the moment we started taking more interest in God. It wasn’t a life-changing moment when it happened; it was just faith that made it happen.”

Brinson, who had battled and masked depression for seven years, explains that for him, meeting Nick was the start of a process.

“Nick started to talk to me about my faith and dive into it,” Brinson said. “I started to feel a bit closer to God but then I went back home that summer, I got away from it. When I came back this year to ASU, the depression was really bad again, and I was partying more than I ever had.”

Brinson remembers sitting in his dorm room at night, mulling over one thought:

“There has to be more to life than me feeling like this.”

He resumed discussions and Bible study with Nick, as well as ASU hockey teammate Gage Mackie, a freshman at the time whom Brinson now describes as his best friend.

Then came a pivotal dinner with his pastor in October of his sophomore year.

“My pastor said, ‘Tonight could be the night where you surrender your life to God and give Him everything, or you could decide not to, but you’re making a decision either way,” Brinson said.

Brinson remembers his heart racing, as he knew he needed to begin wholeheartedly living for God.

“I felt like I was carrying a thousand pounds on my shoulders,” he said. “I just closed my eyes and said, ‘All right, God, I’m done carrying this on my own, so here it is. I’m scared, I don’t know what’s going to happen, but I know I want you to be the No. 1 priority in my life.”

Brinson says that God has worked miracles in his life since that night.

“There were times when I battled depression, when I couldn’t get suicidal thoughts out of my mind; it was terrifying,” Brinson said.

“I felt so guilty about it for so many years, and on October 29, 2017, when I met Jesus that night with my pastor, God completely healed me of all of that,” he said.

Brinson Pasichnuk (Photo courtesy of ASU Athletics)

“I think that’s the most powerful part of my testimony,” Brinson said. “I was mentally ill with suicidal depression; one night when I surrendered to Jesus, He healed me of all of that and He made me the happiest person when I wake up every morning.”

He said that now instead of asking God why he went through depression, he thanks God for seeing him through it, because his testimony can now help others who may be going through similar battles.

“The most important thing I would say to somebody going through mental health struggles is to not do this alone,” Brinson said. “You have to reach out and talk to someone you trust. Even if you don’t have faith, just talk to God one night and ask Him to reveal Himself to you, just like I did, and He will because Jesus died for everyone, not just a certain few.”

“God loves you more than you could ever imagine. All He wants is for you to talk to Him and ask Him into your life. It’s that simple, and it’ll be the best decision you ever make,” Brinson said.

Brinson now wakes up every morning with joy and a desire to serve others, and says he aims to be a person, and a teammate, that others are comfortable to be around and know that they can talk to, free of judgement.

“If I say something, I’m going to back it up and live the way that Jesus called me to live,” Brinson said. “I’m not going to point out a flaw in someone else when I have flaws myself. I really model my faith by that and loving others because Jesus loves others. I want to put others before my own needs because that’s what Jesus did.”

He says that by simply living the way he knows God has called them to, he and Mackie — a 6-foot-4’ center from Anchorage — have had opportunities to share Jesus with others.

“God has given us this opportunity and this platform to spread His Word by letting people see the way we’re living our lives,” Brinson said. “As people get curious, they come to us and ask, ‘What’s different about you?’”

He says the answer to that question is simple.

“It’s not me, it’s Jesus!” he said. “Jesus gave me this happiness and he gives it to me every day, and that’s exciting because I get to wake up every day and cast my worries and anxieties on to Him and in return He gives me the joy, the peace, the patience, the kindness, the love.”

Steenn says that pursuing faith while attending and playing college hockey at ASU, which carries a reputation as a party school, is not as difficult as one might think. He points to faith programs on campus including Arizona State’s chapter of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, as well as a team chapel, which is run by the players themselves.

Tattooed on Brison’s chest is a reference to Philippians 4:13, and he says that he leans on Philippians 4:12-13 for stability, no matter the circumstance.

“I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through Him who gives me strength.” — Philippians 4:12-13

“Whenever I’m going through something hard, I reflect on that and realize this is for a reason. God is causing this to work for my good. ‘Calm down, Brinson; Jesus has got you!’” Brinson said.

He also turns to Romans 8:28:

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.”

“I know that God isn’t allowing this to happen because he wants to punish me. He’s allowing it because He knows something good is going to come out of it,” Brinson said. “I have to bring that through my mind over and over again. I could have the worst game of my life, but when I go into prayer after the game, I say, ‘Thank You, God. Thank You for not letting me do this on my own. You have a plan so I don’t have to worry. You’re such a good father.’”

Steenn Pasichnuk (Photo courtesy of ASU Athletics)

The Pasichnuks were among their team’s best and most relied upon players in junior hockey, and Brinson is the team captain at ASU. He was also named team co-MVP, leading the team in scoring as a sophomore defenseman.

While playing in the NHL remains a dream and an aspiration of his, Brinson now approaches it with the peace that comes with knowing that God is in control.

“I feel like God has called me to play professional hockey. It’s been a dream to play in the NHL, and I truly hope it happens,” he said. “If hockey were to end tomorrow, that would be hard, but I’d be OK with it because it would mean that God has something better for me down the road.”

“I don’t worry about where I’m going to play because God has a place ready for me after I’m done with university. I don’t know where that is or what that entails, but I know He’s got big plans for me with or without hockey,” Brinson said. “I just need to focus on today and trust God for tomorrow.”

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