60 saves from Matthys not enough as Spartans fall to Selkirk on the road

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Despite a 60-save effort from Silas Matthys, Trinity Western University was bested 4-1 by Selkirk College at the Castlegar Recreation Complex on Friday night.

The Spartans were outshot 63-20, but Matthys kept TWU in the game as Selkirk only led 2-1 through 40 minutes.

In the third period, a Saints power play goal gave the home side a two-goal bulge and then an empty-netter dashed any TWU comeback hopes. Matthys has now made 98 saves in his last two outings.

The win improves Selkirk to 16-3-0-1 while the loss drops TWU to 9-11. The Spartans remain tied with Thompson Rivers for third place in the BCIHL standings. With four games remaining, TWU needs a one win or a Victoria loss to clinch a playoff spot.

The Saints took a 2-1 lead in the first period but then were held off the board entirely in the second as Matthys made 23 saves in the middle stanza alone. At 7:05 of the third, Selkirk’s Beau Taylor scored the insurance marker and the Saints, outshooting TWU 23-6 over the final 20 minutes, cruised to the win.

Logan Proulx, Cody Fidgett and Connor McLaughlin all scored for the Saints while TWU’s Christian Rodriguez tallied the lone marker for the Spartans.

Selkirk goalie Chris Hurry made 19 saves to earn his 11th win of the year.

The Spartans were playing without leading scorer JP Villeneuve as well as fellow forwards Chris Hirano and Andrew Wheeler and despite the loss, coach Barret Kropf was impressed with TWU's effort.

"The guys played unbelievable and Silas stood on his head," Kropf said. "We were right there with these guys and we were doing it without three of our top guys up front."

"The guys put in a great 60-minute effort and competed well. The way Silas is playing, he gives us a chance to win. It’s an exciting spot for us to be in as we fight for that playoff spot. The guys seem to be coming together at the right time."

Less than five minutes into the game, Proulx opened the scoring for Selkirk, with assists going to Darnell Dyck and McLaughlin. But the Saints lead lasted less than three minutes as Rodriguez equalized at 7:36 of the opening period with Jake Harcoff and Mattias Schmitt picking up assists on the goal.

Only 1:37 after Rodriguez’s goal, Selkirk’s Fidgett scored to give the Saints a 2-1 lead and it was an advantage they wouldn’t relinquish. Lucas Hildebrand and Proulx earned helpers.

Taylor, with assists going to Stefan Gonzales and Fidgett, made it 3-1 midway through the third before McLaughlin rounded out the scoring with an unassisted empty-net goal with 22 seconds to play.

The Spartans will travel to play Eastern Washington Saturday at 7:00 PM. The game can be seen live at bcihl.fasthockey.com.