Callegari nets pair as SFU puts Spartans on the ropes with Game 1 victory

A controversial no-goal call proved to be the difference in Game 1 of Trinity Western University's best-of-three BCIHL semifinal series as the Spartans lost 3-2 to Simon Fraser University on Thursday evening at the Langley Events Centre.

With the Spartans trailing 3-1 midway through the third period, TWU’s Cody Fidgett looked to have scored to get the home side within one goal. The Spartans leading scorer broke through the SFU defence and into the slot and his attempt on goal deflected back towards him, off his skate and into the back of the net. However, the referees called it off, explaining they didn’t see the puck go in the net.

With 3:21 left in the third period, TWU defenceman Jake Harcoff eventually scored the Spartans second goal, but that was as close the home side would get. First-year goalie Jordan Liem held the fort for SFU the rest of the way as the fourth-seeded Clan struck first blood against the first place Spartans.

Game 2 is Friday at 7:00 PM at the Bill Copeland Sports Centre. If necessary, Game 3 is back at the LEC Saturday at 7 PM.

"It’s really frustrating when you have a situation where we clearly scored what could have been the tying goal and it was called off," said Spartans coach Barret Kropf. "For them to not be in position to make that call, it’s frustrating. That game should have been decided in overtime." 

The Clan's Adam Callegari scored twice to pace the visitors, including the game’s first goal early in the opening period and the game-winning goal early in the third period, while Jono Ceci tallied SFU’s other goal midway through the second.

Mattias Schmitt scored for the Spartans early in the second period to make it a 1-1 game.

Spartans goalie Silas Matthys made 33 saves in the loss while Liem stopped 34 of the 36 shots he faced to earn the victory.

"Credit to SFU," Kropf said. "They did the things they needed to do down the stretch to win. At the end of the day, it’s something we have to bounce back from. History is filled with examples of teams bouncing back. Mentally we need to refocus and tomorrow we’ll see what we’re made of."

The Clan was the stronger side early in the first period and its efforts were rewarded as Callegari scored on a power play when his point shot found its way through a screen and past Matthys.

Late in the opening frame, the Spartans pushed back and with the tables tilting, Schmitt scored for TWU early in the second period. With the man-advantage Ryan Bakken’s one-timer from the top of the left circle was initially stopped by Liem, but Schmitt was there to bang home the rebound.

SFU re-established its lead when Ceci deflected home a Jared Eng point shot. And Callegari was back at it offensively early in the third period when he got his stick to a bouncing puck in the crease and hammered to the back of the net from inches out to give SFU a 3-1 lead. That set up the night’s most controversial call.

Just inside nine minutes to play, Fidgett busted through the SFU back line and had a partial breakaway. His shot attempt bounced back into his feet before ricocheting under Liem and into the back of the net.

After a brief discussion, the referees concluded that they did not see the puck cross the goal line.

With just over three minutes to play, Harcoff raced down the left wing and whipped a shot between the legs of Liem from a sharp angle. That set up a frenetic final two minutes, but the Spartans were unable to find the equaliser.

Game Notes: Thursday’s game marked the first time TWU has had home-ice advantage for a playoff series…the Spartans beat SFU in last year’s semifinal series, winning Game 3 on the road to advance to the BCIHL championship series for the first time…in last year’s series, it was TWU winning Game 1, before SFU forced the series to go the distance with a Game 2 victory…SFU is now one win away from getting back to the BCIHL championship tilt for the seventh time in eight years.