Trinity Western plays spoiler for Clan, down SFU 6-5 in shootout thriller

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Simon Fraser University had their hands full on Friday night against Trinity Western University, with the Spartans playing spoiler by skating to a 6-5 shootout win at the Langley Events Centre.

An energetic crowd brought the spirit and the Spartans responded, coming back from an early two-goal deficit to keep the Clan from gaining ground on Selkirk College for top spot in the BCIHL standings.

Brenden Sylvester opened the scoring for SFU early in the first period off a set-up from Chris Hoe and Jono Ceci. A minute later, the Spartans tied the game when Mattias Schmitt got off a quick wrister glove side on Clan goalie Evan Kurylo. But SFU responded off the ensuing draw, as Nick Sandor notched his team-leading 15th of the season with assists going to Kyzen Loo and Tony Oak.

Midway through the first, the Spartans got caught pinching deep, sending Silvester and Ceci in on a 2-on-1. Ceci finished off the play top shelf after a great deke by Sylvester sent the single defender sliding left. That was it for TWU goaltender Tim Zwiers, who allowed 3 goals on 12 shots.

The switch in net seemed to spark the Spartans as they tied the game late in the first after a bouncing puck found its way past Kurylo. Jake Harcoff was credited with the goal with assists from Blair Murphy and Matthew Ius.

Trinity Western coach Dwayne Lowdermilk must have said something very inspirational during the first intermission as the Spatans shot out of the tunnel with momentum and energy and tied the game just 27 seconds in.
Schmitt intercepted a pass deep in the SFU zone and wristed his second of the night past a stunned Kurylo.

The Clan barely had time to regroup before the Spartans scored 40 seconds later when TWU forward Matt Ius deked through the SFU defence and slid it past the sprawled SFU tender. SFU’s lead disappeared 1:09 into the middle frame and they had to weather the storm by playing a strong defensive game. Kale Wild managed to turn the momentum in their favor on the power play by converting a beautiful saucer pass from Colton Graf.

Late in the second frame, a scramble took place in front the SFU and the Spartans managed to score a rare powerplay goal when Ius slid the puck past Kurylo, who was knocked down on the play. The goal was Ius’ second of the game.

The third period didn’t yield much in the terms of entertainment but SFU did manage to tie the game midway through the frame on a great deflection by Trevor Milner off a point shot from Kale Wild. Both teams traded chances late in regulation but neither could convert.

The overtime period solved nothing and the teams took turns from the center dot with hopes of gaining the extra point in a shootout. It wasn't until the sixth set of shooters that TWU's Chris Hirano snapped a shot through the legs of Kurylo to put the home team ahead. Colton Graf failed to keep the shootout going and the Clan failed to gain position in the standings on the idle Saints.

Game Notes: SFU outshot TWU 40 to 37. The Clan power play was 1-for-5. SFU hosts the Spartans tomorrow night at Bill Copeland Arena. Puck drop is set for 7:00 PM.