The University of Victoria and the Thompson Rivers University Wolfpack faced off Sunday afternoon for the back half of a two-game home set. Jason Margolus was given the start in net for UVic while the Wolfpack countered with Shane Mainprize.
After taking a lopsided loss the previous night, UVic came out strong in the first period. However, Thompson Rivers would weather the brief attack and go on to score an early goal of their own that seemed to take the energy out of the UVic players. Riding the momentum of their first goal, the Wolfpack found three more markers in the period, leaving UVic searching for answers. After one, UVIC 0 TRU 4
The second period would prove to be nothing like the first. First, Francis Gonella rejuvenated the UVic side at 18:05 with his second of the year. After escaping any damage from an immediate Wolfpack response, Adam Klein would find a streaking Justin Ferreira who also buried his second of the season at the 13:49 mark.
The UVic attack was relentless in the second and at 8:16 rookie Eli Wiebe fired in his sixth to make it a one-goal game. An overwhelmed Thompson Rivers side became increasingly frustrated and with one minute remaining in the period a pair of TRU penalties sent UVic to the power play.
With 33 seconds remaining and a 5-on-3 advantage, Doug Evans blasted a slap shot through traffic that evaded the TRU goaltender and tied the game. Still on the power play, UVic wasn’t done. With 14 seconds remaining, Brent Sutherland found the go-ahead goal to cap off an electric second frame. After two, UVIC 5 TRU 4.
The third period would be equally as exciting after the Wolfpack took the intermission to re-adjust. UVic failed to capitalize on their few opportunities to start the frame while Thompson Rivers began to press. The Wolfpack would finally break through at the 12:35 mark to level the game. With the game now tied, the chess match continued until the 7:11 mark when Brent Sutherland deked through two TRU defenders and shoveled the puck past the goaltender to regain the lead for UVic.
That lead would be short-lived as the Wolfpack responded just 32 seconds later. The shootout continued when UVic was awarded a power play with 5:45 left in the game. Great work by the UVic power play was rewarded again when Mark Prest found the back of the net at 4:10 and once again gave UVic a narrow lead.
Thompson Rivers would throw everything at the UVic net but Jason Margolus and his teammates defended well. With the puck loose in a goal-mouth scramble, the buzzer sounded to give UVic the win. Final score, UVIC 7, TRU 6.
Brent Sutherland turned in a four-point performance with a pair of goals and two assists. Rookie forward Eli Wiebe continued to impress with a goal and two helpers to give him 17 points on the season (6G-11A).
UVic went 3/5 on the power play while Thompson Rivers was 0/2. UVic out-shot the Wolfpack by a margin of 44-29.
UVic will return to action on March 2nd when the team travels to the mainland for a pair of games with Trinity Western University and Simon Fraser University.
VICTORIA
SIMON FRASER
OKANAGAN
LOGAN LAKE
VANCOUVER ISLAN.
