Weekend Preview: TWU looks to keep perfect record as SFU visits Friday

Trinity Western University will look to make the climb back up the B.C. Intercollegiate Hockey League standings on Friday night when Simon Fraser University visits the Langley Events Centre.

The Spartans had a firm grasp on first place when they played their last game back on October 26th, and they hold the only perfect record in the BCIHL at 4-0-0-0. But the team's sparse early schedule has seen them fall behind SFU and Vancouver Island University, though not by much. They trail the Mariners by a single point but hold four games in hand, while they're two points back of the Clan with three fewer games played.

The TWU offence has been humming along at 4.25 goals scored per game, thanks in large part to veteran forwards Evan Last and Brandon Potomak and blueliner Dustin Deugau. The trio has combined for seven goals and 24 points through four games, and all three sit amongst the league's point leaders despite having played just half the games of most of their opponents.

But the stunning accomplishment for the Spartans has taken place at the other end of the ice, where Lucas Mills has allowed just five goals on 80 shots in nearly four full games of action. His 1.37 goals-against average and .938 save-percentage are both miles ahead of his closest competition.

The Clan, meanwhile, head into weekend action boasting a four-game win streak of their own. SFU dispatched of Victoria on the road on October 26th before topping Selkirk College on home ice the following evening. They kept their hot play going last weekend when they scored 14 goals in a weekend sweep of VIU in Burnaby.

Mac Colasimone has scored all nine of his regular season points during his team's string of wins, while rookie forward Cole Plotnikoff has eight points over the course of a six-game scoring streak.

Michael Lenko has seen the lion's share of the Clan's goaltending duties and was in goal for both of last weekend's wins against the Mariners. The former SIJHL standout is now 3-2-0-0 with a 4.44 goals-against that is mostly rooted in a seven-goal outing against Selkirk College in the team's opener on October 5th.

The teams have already met once this season, with the Spartans picking up a 4-1 win in SFU's home opener on October 13th. That game was close until midway through the third period when TWU scored shorthanded and power-play goals minutes apart to extend a 2-1 lead. Rookie Logan Casavant led the way with a goal and an assist for the visitors.

Saturday's game is set for a 7:00 PM faceoff and will be broadcast live on Hockey TV.