Okanagan takes hold of postseason destiny with big win over WolfPack

The Thompson Rivers University WolfPack hockey team ran into a desperate club on Saturday night, matching up against an Okanagan College Crusaders squad that was fighting for their playoff lives in the B.C. Intercollegiate Hockey League.

And the Kelowna-based Crusaders lived to see another day in that battle, upsetting the WolfPack 7-3. That snaps the WolfPack’s five game winning streak and drops them to 13-7 in league play. Okanagan College is now 9-11-2.

“Our effort was unacceptable,” said WolfPack head coach Chris Hans “All positions were lacking in performance and intensity. We allowed power play, even strength and even short handed goals while we played the game on the perimeter.”

The WolfPack got goals from Mick Ludvig, Joel Leonard and Jassi Sangha.

“We had better learn quick that without a willingness to compete and sacrifice (take hits, don’t retaliate and take unnecessary penalties) we will struggle,” Hans added. “ This has been a recurring problem that is correctable and avoidable. We better have all our players ‘check their egos at the door’ or we will underachieve this season.”

Brock Fraser started in goal for TRU and allowed all seven goals on 24 shots. He was replaced by Blake Tancock in the third period and faced five shots. TRU fired 44 pucks at the Okanagan College net. The WolfPack are on the road again for games next Saturday and Sunday in Castlegar against Selkirk College.

They close out their first regular season in the BCIHL at home on Friday Feb 26th and 27th against University of Fraser Valley. Their game on Feb 26th is at the Interior Savings Center.