In a wild goal-fest that was sparked early in the first period, the visiting Simon Fraser University Clan exploded for a 10-5 win over Trinity Western University on Friday at the Langley Events Centre.
With the score tied 3-3 at 6:40 of the second period, the Clan scored twice before the frame was out to launch a goal barrage that saw SFU roll to a five-goal win.
The Clan scored the first three goals of the third period, chasing TWU starting goalie Aaron Oakley, and then the teams traded goals down the stretch as SFU pulled away for the victory.
Matthew Berry-Lamontagna had a six-point night for SFU, scoring three goals and adding three assists, while Brendan Lamont had four points, with one goal and three helpers. Vance Bridgman had two goals, while Dyllan Quon, Adam Callegari, Brandon Tidy and Jono Ceci each scored singles.
The Spartans' Mattias Schmitt had a four-point night, with one goal and three assists while Jamie Russell had one goal and two assists and Ryan Bakken had three assists. Dirk de Waal had two goals, with Matthew Vela nabbing the other Spartans goal.
TWU’s Oakley made 15 saves in the loss while Allistair Duncan, who was playing in his first BCIHL game as a Spartan, stopped two shots in relief duty.
SFU was four for five on the power play while TWU was two for six.
“Oaks has stood on his head for the last three games for us and then when he didn’t make a couple early saves, there was a bit of an ‘uh-oh’ from the guys and we weren’t ready to respond to that,” said Spartans coach Barret Kropf.
“Our way to respond was to try to do things on our own. Then you start forcing the puck and trying to do things and skate with it too long and not move it quick enough instead of trusting your teammates. I think it just wasn’t a team effort. I think that’s probably the disappointing part of the night. The positive part is that we now know what it feels like in the locker room to get your lunch handed to you and it’s good that it’s happening now, instead of later in the season."
“There are good teams in the league and anyone can win every night. I’m just glad we have a game against these guys tomorrow.”
The Spartans and Clan play Saturday at 7 p.m. at the Bill Copeland Sports Centre. Tidy opened the scoring for SFU early in the first period before de Waal and Russell tallied for TWU.
But before the period was out Callegari and Quon responded for SFU. At 6:40 of the second, de Waal evened the game 3-3, but SFU scored five unanswered goals. Berry-Lamontagna and Bridgman scored before the period was over and then a pair of Berry-Lamontagna goals sandwiched around a Lamont marker early in the third put the game to bed.
Vela made it 8-4 before Bridgman and Ceci extended SFU’s lead to 10-4. A goal from Schmitt late in the third period rounded out the scoring.
VICTORIA
SIMON FRASER
LOGAN LAKE
VANCOUVER ISLAN.
OKANAGAN
