Spartans look to solidify hold on top spot with home series vs. Victoria

Trinity Western University will close out their home schedule for the fall semester on Friday and Saturday against the University of Victoria in a match-up of squads at opposite ends of the B.C. Intercollegiate Hockey League standings.

The Spartans are rolling through nine games of regular season action and sit atop the league standings with an 8-1-0-0 record and 16 points. TWU has allowed just 18 goals in those nine contests, counting in at 16 fewer than any of their BCIHL opponents.

The Vikes, on the other hand, will be looking to snap a seven-game losing streak and begin the climb back into the league's playoff picture. Victoria currently sits in fifth place at 1-9-0-0, nine points back of Selkirk College for the fourth and final postseason berth.

The TWU offence has been no slouch, but the engine behind the team's success has been their play in front of starting netminder Lucas Mills -- and the outstanding goaltending of Mills himself. The reigning BCIHL Player of the Week allowed just three goals on 73 shots on his team's two-game sweep of Vancouver Island opponents last weekend, including an 8-1 victory over the Vikes at the Ian Stewart Complex.

Another Mills -- older brother Jacob -- led the way offensively in that game with three assists, while five different Spartans skaters recorded two-point nights. Evan Last and Dustin Degeau share the team points lead with 13, while Brandon Potomak and Jarrett Fontaine have also been consistent offensive performers for the defending league champions.

Victoria has struggled to put the puck in the next over the first half of the season, but have seen a number of rookies step up in November. Blake Holowaty has picked up five points during a four-game point streak while Carter Huber has four in his last three. NCAA transfer Otis Goldman has four goals in five appearances this month.

But any offensive improvement may be a moot point if the Vikes can't tighten up on defence. The squad has yet to allow three of fewer goals in a game so far this season, and netminders Zack Wear and Michael Frederick have been shelled to the run of 114 shots on goal in their two most recent losses.

The Vikes will look to turn their season around in the same arena where they lifted the BCIHL championship trophy in March 2017.

Friday's game is set for a 7:00 PM start while the team's will wrap up the weekend with a 12:00 PM matinee match-up on Saturday. Both games will be broadcast live on Hockey TV.