The TRU WolfPack took both ends of a weekend doubleheader at home to the University of Victoria, topping the Vikes by scores of 5-3 and 5-1 on Friday and Saturday nights respectively.
In the series opener, Duncan Schulz scored the first goal of the evening at 18:07, with an assist from Joshua MacDonald before Lucas Daoust doubled the lead with TRU’s second goal, assisted by Travis Herlein and Nathan Michaels, at 9:13.
UVIC didn’t give in, however, and Dennis Pavlina brought the Vikes within one, assisted by Justin Ferreria and Chris Lee. In addition, to assisting Ferreria, Lee also scored a goal. The times of the goals were 8:16 and 22:44.
In the second period, both teams held their own. UVIC’s Doug Evans started the period off by scoring on a power play. TRU’s Drew De Frias scored his first goal since joining the league this year. The goal was assisted by team captain Andrew Fisher.
When asked how he felt about scoring his first goal, De Frias said, “It’s about time.” He added that, “we [TRU] needed a win.”
Fisher, then went on to scored the final goal of the period to give TRU a 4-3 lead.
While UVIC put up a good fight, the TRU WolfPack fought harder. Mick Ludvig scored the only goal of the period at 12:34. The goal was assisted by McDonald and Schulz. The game ended with TRU being triumphant.
According to head coach Don Schulz, while TRU had a good win they still have some things they need to work on.
“We’ve still got to get better about being aware of what the game situation is at certain times.” In addition, Schulz said, “We had a great start to the game and it would be nice to do that again tomorrow and carry it the momentum on throughout the rest of the game.”
The WolfPack obviously took their coach's advice on Saturday, as TRU had a great game and came away with a 5-1 win.
According to Schulz his team, “offensively carried on from where [they] were last night and [he] thought [they] were really steady.”
The first goal was scored by UVIC’s Cam McWilliam at 11:54. Brett Orser and Thomas Bruton got the assists. TRU quickly fought back and Jassi Sangha scored the first goal of the night for the WolfPack at 5:51 on assists from Andrew Fisher and Shane Oatway.
In the second period, TRU really picked things up scoring two additional goals. Travis Herlein scored on the power play with an assist from Sangha and Shane Mainprize which was scored at 12:11. Lucas Daoust scored a breakaway goal giving TRU a 3-1 advantage over UVIC going into the third period. TRU continued to be consistent as Mick Ludvig scored with an assist from Joshua Macdonald and Shane Oatway. With only a few minutes remaining Fisher assisted Sangha into scoring his second goal of the evening at 18:47.
Schulz was pleased with the way his team played.
“From a consistency point of view we were certainly a lot better in our d-zone tonight and we rotated and communicated a lot better,” he said.
Goalie Shane Mainprize was back on the lineup for Saturday’s game after being out for over a month due to a groin injury. Mainprize played well, saving 24 out of 25 shots.
Coming back from his injury Mainprize wasn’t sure how it would go but said, “It feels good and just to be back on the lineup is a plus.”
Mainprize thought Saturday’s game was a good one.
“I thought we played [well.] We had a bit of off minutes last night and I think they scored a little more but I think tonight’s game was a little tighter.”
In other TRU hockey new, the team is still sporting mustaches for Movember. If anyone would care to support the boys they can go to http://ca.movember.com/ and Search TRU Hockey.
VICTORIA
SIMON FRASER
OKANAGAN
LOGAN LAKE
VANCOUVER ISLAN.
