TWU keeps perfect record intact with high-scoring victory over Mariners

Trinity Western University defeated Vancouver Island University by a 6-5 score at the Aldergrove Credit Union Community Centre Saturday afternoon, earning their third consecutive victory to open the season.

Logan Casavant registered two goals and an assist for TWU, while Brandon Potomak, Evan Last, Travis Verveda and Josh Bruce also scored for TWU.

With the win the Spartans improved to 3-0-0-0 to start the season, while the Mariners fall to 3-3-0-1 on the year.

The Mariners offence was led by Brett Witala, who recorded a hat trick and added an assist in the loss.

TWU opened the scoring just 1:37 into the game, as Potomak fired a Jordan Bogress feed past Huber to make it 1-0. Just over five minutes later the Mariners responded on the powerplay, with Witala scoring his first of the game with a wrister in the slot to make it 1-1.

Last then responded for the Spartans, roofing a shot over the blocker of Huber to in close to regain the Spartans lead. With 4:52 left in the first period, Vancouver Island once again equalized on the powerplay, with Garrett Dunlop scoring to make it 2-2.

Into the second period the Spartans got goals from Casavant and Verveda to stretch their lead to 4-2. Witala then scored his second powerplay marker of the game with 1:17 left in the second period to cut the Spartans lead to one. Witala then recorded his hat trick goal 1:41 into the third period, knotting the game back up at four.

After Logan Casavant and Liam Cumberbirch traded goals midway through the period to make it 5-5, it was Josh Bruce playing hero with 8:22 remaining in the final frame.

Spartans rookie Isaac LaBelle made 35 saves to earn his first BCIHL victory, while Mariners goaltender Matt Huber made 39 saves for his third loss of the season.

TWU’s victory over Vancouver Island was their second of the season, bettering the Mariners 5-4 in overtime one week ago. The Spartans also bettered the Mariners in all eight of their matchups in 2018-19, holding a perfect 8-0 record including their BCIHL championship series sweep.

The Mariners came back from deficits all throughout the game, being down 1-0, 2-1, 4-1, and 5-4 in the game, before the Spartans sixth goal put it just out of reach.

The Spartans are back in action Thursday as they play host to Simon Fraser University at the Langley Events Centre. Puck drop is set for 7:00 PM.