UVic power play leads the way as Vikes grab road win in Langley

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The Trinity Western University Spartans men’s hockey team was once again victimized by their opposition’s powerplay as the University of Victoria Vikes scored two goals with the man advantage to spark a 3-1 win Friday night at the George Preston Recreation Centre.

The Spartans' Matt Markowsky opened the scoring just over five minutes into the first period but Victoria’s Doug Evans replied with 3:11 left in the frame and, from there, the Island team seized momentum.

Victoria took the lead five minutes into the second period on a goal by Mark Callaghan and then, in the third period, capped the game’s scoring with a goal from Phil Barter.

Victoria’s Adam Courtnall, who was the visiting team’s lone multi-point player, assisted on both the second and third goals. Trinity Western’s Aaron Riemersma and Kye Benjaminsen earned helpers on the Spartans lone goal.

The Spartans are now 1-6-1 on the season while Victoria is 2-1-0.

“There’s not much to say. We took a lot of penalties and we didn’t get a lot of quality shots,” said Spartans coach Dwayne Lowdermilk. “We can play with every team but we just need to finish around the net. When you have five guys giving it 100 per cent and 10 guys giving it 75 per cent, it’s not going to work. But I have to say goalie Tim [Zwiers] played really well again.”

In what was a relatively penalty free first period as only one penalty per team was called, Markowsky scored his second goal of the year and in doing so opened the scoring 5:48 into the first frame. But the Spartans lead was not to last as Victoria’s Evans knotted things up when he scored his first of the season on his team’s only powerplay late in the period.

In the second period, Trinity Western found itself in penalty trouble as they took three minor penalties and had one accompanied by a game misconduct to captain Brad Bakken after he was whistled for checking from behind. Victoria capitalized on the subsequent powerplay following Bakken’s banishment when Callaghan scored his first of the season with Dennis Pavlina and Brent Sutherland getting credited with assists.

In the third period, the game slowed down to a defensive crawl as neither team was able to generate much offence. Victoria had six shots in the period while Trinity Western only had four. But for Victoria, they were good on one of their attempts as Barter earned his first goal of the season with 6:36 to go in the game and gave his team an insurance marker.

The Spartans are next in action Nov. 12th at 7:30 p.m. and 13th at 1:30 p.m. on the road against Selkirk College. Victoria will play its next game Saturday against Simon Fraser at 7:00 p.m. at the Bill Copeland Sports Centre.

Game Notes – The Spartans were 0 for 4 on the powerplay while Victoria was 2 for 8…TWU’s Zwiers 23 saves on 26 shots while Victoria’s Jason Margolus stopped 21 of 22 shots directed his way.