Thompson Rivers University may not be returning to Kamloops with two wins like head coach Don Schulz had hoped, but the WolfPack did earn three of a possible four points from two games at Eastern Washington after battling to a 4-3 overtime defeat on Saturday night in Cheney, WA.
The 'Pack saw their record improve to 4-4-0-1 despite playing without a number of key players, including team captain Curtis Tonello and fellow blueliner Cody Rose.
The Eagles trailed 2-0 after 20 minutes on Saturday and fell behind once agin in the third period, but their power-play produced three goals on the night to send the game to sudden death. And Jake Flynn ended it just 2:14 into OT with his sixth goal of the season.
"We were able to put together four solid periods, but unfortunately got sidetracked a little in the second," says Schulz. "There was some questionable refereeing, but it was how we reacted to this that caused us to come unglued and that is ultimately why we lost."
Colten DeFrias had a strong night for the visitors, getting his hands on every TRU scoring play with a goal and two assists. Centre Alessio Tomassetti and winger Lucas Daoust each added a goal and an assist.
Shane Mainprize faced 39 shots in a losing effort. But the TRU offence reciprocated by getting 40 shots against EWU goalie Cash Ulrich.
"Overall it was a pretty gutsy weekend for a short staffed team of four defense and ten forwards," said Schulz.
Nathan Michaels played the game with four stiches in his lower lip and Daoust pushed through the pain of a taped thumb that was originally believed to be fractured.
"Our penalty kill was vastly improved," Schulz says. "What we worked on in practice sank in and showed this weekend, all the hard work paid off for us. We were so close to having a four point weekend, but energy wise we just lost it."
The next home WolfPack hockey game is scheduled for November 30th against Simon Fraser University at Memorial Arena. Puck drop will be at 8 pm.
VICTORIA
SIMON FRASER
OKANAGAN
LOGAN LAKE
VANCOUVER ISLAN.
