Trinity Western University had their five-game winning streak come to an end on Saturday night with a 3-2 shootout loss to the Simon Fraser University at the Bill Copeland Sports Centre in Burnaby.
The shootout loss drops the Spartans to 6-2-0-1 (13 points), while the win moves the Clan to 6-4-0-0 (12 points). SFU is now one point behind Trinity Western for second spot in the BCIHL. The Selkirk Saints currently hold top spot with 16 points on an 8-2-0-0 record.
“Really proud of the guys they competed as champions tonight. It was a heated rivalry that was renewed tonight. We have been able to build up a battle with SFU on the scoreboard and in the corners,” commented TWU head coach Barret Kropf.
“Both teams completed back and forth with key players on both teams playing great hockey. Silas (Matthys) stood on his head and our D men played unbelievable, we just ended up losing in a shootout.”
The Spartans' Blair Murphy opened the scoring at 7:16 of the first period by converting a pass from PJ Buys. But the Clan's Jamie Waddington tied the game less than a minute later at 8:11. TWU’s Riley Schmidt got the Spartans the one-goal lead back 31 seconds later, 8:42, with assists to Cody Stephenson and Ryan Bakken as the period ended with the Spartans up 2-1.
The next 48 minutes had no scoring, until SFU’s Jesse Mysiorek tied the game up with 2:15 remaining in the game and force the game into overtime.
SFU had the only four shots in overtime, but were unable to score. In the shootout SFU defeated TWU 2-1, with Jamie Waddington scoring the game winner.
Next up for the Spartans is the Selkirk Saints on Friday December 4. Puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m. at the Langley Events Centre.
Game Notes: SFU outshot TWU 41 to 38… the Spartans went 0-9 on the power play, while the Clan went 0-10…TWU’s Silas Matthys made 39 saves, while SFU’s Jordan Liem made 36 saves in the win.