The Trinity Western University Spartans are home again this weekend as they take on the University of Victoria at the George Preston Arena in Langley, B.C. on Friday night. Puck drop is set for 7:45 p.m. and tickets are available at the arena box office.
The Spartans will look to extend their unbeaten streak to three games and keep momentum after their 1-0-1 weekend last week. After a successful weekend at home the Spartans have improved their record to 1-5-1 as they look to take on a University of Victoria team that has only played two games since the start of the season.
Last weekend, the Spartans halted their five game slide with a decisive victory over the Selkirk Saints. Brandon Long scored first for the Spartans, beating the Selkirk goalie on the blocker side during the second period. With that, the Spartans went back to the dressing room up 1-0.
However, in the third period the Saints fought back, getting a shot of their own past Spartan goalie Tim Zwiers. Facing a 1-1 tie, the Spartans capitalized on a Selkirk penalty as Captain Brad Bakken sent a Trevor Beaupre rebound home. With that, the Spartans were able to hold on for the win while adding an empty netter from Long.
On the following afternoon the Spartans welcomed Okanagan College to the LEC. In the first period the Spartans found themselves down 2-0 after a pair of quick goals by the Coyotes. But in the second period the Spartans were able to battle with their own successive goals from Scott Holmes and Jordan Magnuson.
After the second intermission the Spartans battled for eighteen minutes before scoring the go ahead goal. Trevor Beaupre ripped a rebound into the back of the net to put the Spartans up 3-2. The lead, however, was short lived as the Coyotes snuck one past Zwiers to even the score with less than a minute remaining. The final goal would stand as the two teams remained tied 3-3 at the final buzzer.
The Spartans have had stellar goaltending by Zwiers in their last games, resulting in Zwiers earning BCIHL Player of the Week honours. Zwiers stands with a solid .926 save percentage and 2.72 GAA.
Victoria is returning to the ice for the first time in three weeks in this weekend’s game against the Spartans. Victoria’s first and last weekend of games took place on Oct. 14 and 15 against the Selkirk Saints.
During their season opener Victoria found themselves on the wrong end of a 4-2 game.
In the first period Victoria and the Saints traded goals to finish the period tied up at 1-1. Returning to the ice for the second period, Victoria gave up a shorthanded goal to the Saints to go down 2-1. By the third period, the Saints were on a roll. They managed another shorthanded goal as well as an even strength goal to gain a 4-1 advantage.
A Victoria power play goal cut the lead down to 4-2, but it was all that Victoria was able to muster as that was the final score.
In the next game, Victoria found themselves in a hole at the end of the first period as the Saints led 2-1. However, the second period proved kinder to Victoria as they tallied three goals - one each from Sutherland, Bell, and Pavlina. During the third period Victoria maintained their momentum with a goal from Klein and a second Bell goal. Selkirk added one on the power play, but it was not enough to overcome, as Victoria earned a 6-3 win.
Note: Friday’s game is at the George Preston Arena as the Langley Events Centre is currently hosting the World Junior A Challenge Nov 7-13. Due to technical restrictions the Victoria vs TWU game will not be streamed.
VICTORIA
SIMON FRASER
OKANAGAN
LOGAN LAKE
VANCOUVER ISLAN.
