First place on the line as Clan, Spartans kick off home-and-home series

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Sitting one point behind Simon Fraser University and Selkirk College for top spot in the B.C. Intercollegiate Hockey League, Trinity Western University will take aim at the Clan this weekend when the Spartans play a home-and-home series with SFU, starting Friday at the Langley Events Centre.

This weekend’s series, which sees TWU (11-5-0-1) travel to SFU (12-5-0-0) for the back half of the series on Saturday night, marks the start of a run of three consecutive games for the Spartans against the Clan.

With less than a month left in the regular season and only seven games left, the stretch drive begins in earnest this weekend.

WEEKEND PREVIEW
Friday, Feb. 5 vs. Simon Fraser – 7 p.m.
Saturday, Feb. 6 @ Simon Fraser – 7 p.m.
Watch here: http://bcihl.fasthockey.com

TRINITY WESTERN SPARTANS (11-5-0-1)
BCIHL Standings: 3rd
Last game: Eastern Washington (5-4 W SO)
BCIHL Streak: 4 wins
BCIHL Form: L-W-W-W-W
2014-15 BCIHL Regular Season Record: 17-5-0-2 (1st)
2014-15 BCIHL Playoff Record: 0-2 (lost in BCIHL semifinal)

SPARTANS NOTES
· After a three-game losing streak in early January, the Spartans have righted the ship and have now won four straight.
· With first place still very much a possibility, the next three games against Simon Fraser will likely make or break TWU’s chances at top spot.
· Following Friday’s game, the Spartans will have just one more home game at the LEC – Feb. 27th against Selkirk. TWU’s last home game – Mar. 4th against Victoria – will be played at the George Preston Arena. · PJ Buys (7G and 11A) and Mattias Schmitt (6G and 12A) continue to lead the team in scoring.
· After Buys and Schmitt, the Spartans next three highest scorers are defensemen, with Blair Murphy (7G and 10A), Ryan Bakken (4G and 12A) and Jacob Mills (13A) leading the way.
· With goalie Silas Matthys out with an injury, Aaron Oakley has stepped in and earned three wins in three starts while posting a .920 save percentage.
· The Spartans came from behind in both of their wins last weekend against Selkirk and Eastern Washington, scoring tying goals in the third period before winning in extra time. · The Spartans are 1-1 against SFU this season.

SIMON FRASER CLAN (12-5-0-0)
BCIHL Standings: 1st
Last game: Victoria (6-4 L)
BCIHL Streak: 1 loss
BCIHL Form: W-W-W-W-L
2014-15 BCIHL Regular Season Record: 12-12-0-0 (4th)
2014-15 BCIHL Playoff Record: 2-2 (lost in BCIHL final)

CLAN NOTES
· Prior to last Friday’s loss to Victoria, SFU had won seven straight games to shoot up to the top of the BCIHL standings.
· Three of the Clan’s wins during their seven-game streak came in a shootout.
· This weekend is the start of a six-game stretch in which SFU will play the Spartans three times in a row before playing Selkirk in three straight outings.
· Tyler Basham (11G and 9A) and Jono Ceci (5G and 15A) lead SFU in scoring. · Robson Cramer is the offensive leader from the blue line, with one goal and 13 assists.
· SFU has the second best power play in the BCIHL at 17.7 per cent. · The Clan is tied with TWU for the second best penalty kill in the BCIHL, at 85.7 per cent.