SFU and TWU face off before Eagles embark on Lower Mainland swing

One of the BCIHL's most anticipated rivalries will see its first match-up of the new season on Thursday when Simon Fraser University crosses the Fraser River to face Trinity Western at the Langley Events Centre.

Both teams are coming off home encounters against the University of Victoria last weekend, but with much different results. Just 24 hours away being spanked 11-1 by TWU, the Vikes spoiled SFU's home opener by cruising to a 5-1 victory.

TWU has scored a league-leading 23 goals in large part due to that 11-goal explosion against Victoria. Leading the way has been 2016/17 BCIHL Rookie of the Year Evan Last, whose seven points are tied with third-year Dirk de Waal and rookie forward Brandon Potomak.

Silas Matthys has been solid as usual between the pipes for the Spartans, who have allowed just seven goals in four games. The Swiss product has posted a 2.01 goals-against average and .910 save-percentage in his three appearances.

The Clan, meanwhile, have either scored in bunches or hardly at all through the first three weeks of regular season action. Team captain Brandon Tidy has been doing his part with four points to date, as has star defenceman Mathew Berry-Lamontagna.

But the strength of last season's first-place SFU squad -- namely defence and goaltending -- has been slow to hit its pace. 2016/17 BCIHL MVP Lyndon Stanwood has won one of three appearances while posting numbers (4.33 GAA, .829 SV%) that are well off his league-leading standards from last season.

After Thursday's head-to-head match-up, the Spartans and Clan will each close out the weekend with home contests against Eastern Washington on Friday and Saturday respectively.

The Eagles are still looking for their first win of the season following a couple of close misses against VIU (6-5) and Selkirk (3-2). And it shouldn't take long if longtime top gun Beau Walker can maintain his 3.0 points-per-game average.

Walker and linemate bret Mathews have been joined by third-year winger Colton St. John, who is enjoying a breakout season with five points through four games (after going pointless in 16 games last season). But the Eagles will need some scoring from beyond their top line, as the remainder of their roster has produced just three goals so far this season.

In goal, EWU can't ask much more of fourth-year starter Austin Brihn. The 23-year old has faced 57 and 51 shots respectively in his past two appearances but allowed just nine goals in those contests.