Spartans look to Zwiers for another A+ effort as SFU visits Friday

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The TWU Spartans will take on a daunting task on Friday when they face Simon Fraser University at the Langley Events Centre (7:00 PM). Trinity Western has had mixed results this season but will need to come into their own in order to compete against No. 1 SFU.

Trinity Western Spartans (3-8-3)

Last Games: Eastern Washington 0-0 T
2010-2011 BCIHL Record: 10-12-2, 5th
2010-2011 BCIHL Playoffs: 1-2, 4th

The Spartans have struggled with cohesiveness this season as they continue to develop their program. Their most recent result was last week when the Spartans played their Eastern Washington rivals to a 0-0 tie after three periods.

Between the pipes Trinity Western relied on the stellar goaltending of Tim Zwiers to save the game. Zwiers was perfect in net for the Spartans, making 27 saves and earning the shutout.

In the first period, the Spartans found themselves in an unenviable position, taking two penalties and finding themselves on the wrong side of a 5-on-3 power play. Despite this advantage, the Eagles were unable to capitalize on the opportunity and game remained scoreless.

The second period saw more of the same, as both teams were unable to find the net. The two teams exchanged fruitless power play opportunities, but at the end of 40 minutes the Eagles had the edge in shots, 19-16.

During the middle of the third period the stress of the game took its toll as the teams had a scuffle that resulted in some roughing penalties. But by the end of the 60 minutes, nothing was decided further and the teams played to a 0-0 draw.

The Spartans took the first and third star of the game, awarded to Tim Zwiers and Sam Gemmell, respectively.

Simon Fraser University (12-0-3)

Last Games: Eastern Washington 6-2 W
2010-2011 BCIHL Record: 18-4-2, 2nd
2010-2011 BCIHL Playoffs: 3-1, 1st

Last weekend SFU was on home ice for a game against the Eastern Washington Eagles. In their first league home game since the break, the team was on task and focused in the 6-2 thrashing.

The Eagles opened the scoring near the beginning of the first period, when Jake Flynn snuck the puck past Graeme Gordon to take the lead. Despite a power play opportunity for Simon Fraser, they were unable to score the equalizer and went to the dressing room down 1-0.

In the second period the Clan came to the ice fired up. Near the middle of the second period Todd Fletcher made it an even game with a power play goal from Christopher Hoe and Ben Van Lare.

This sparked a string of offensive victories for the Clan. Joey Pavone followed up with an even strength marker to take the lead in a 2-1 game. But SFU was not finished with the second period. They added a pair of power play goals in quick succession by Colton Graf and Taylor Pillar. Eastern Washington countered with a goal of their own to close out the period with a score of 4-2.

The third period was a perfect cap to the game for SFU, as Pavone sunk another goal on the power play, topped off with a penalty shot to earn the hat track with five seconds left in the game.

Gordon made 18 saves to earn the win, but he was mostly untested by the Eastern Washington team.