After dismantling Victoria by a six-goal margin Friday, the Trinity Western men’s hockey team was forced to swallow a tough pill Saturday as the Spartans lost 4-3 to the Vikes in an afternoon tilt at the Ian Stewart Complex.
Similar to Friday’s contest, the Spartans opened the scoring in the first period, with JP Villeneuve (Georgetown, Ont.) netting his fourth of the season, but unlike the previous night, the Vikes equalised by the end of the period and never let TWU pull away.
In what was a penalty-filled contest, the Spartans went ahead again early in the second period when Cody Fidgett (Richmond, B.C.) scored on the power play, but a pair of Victoria goals in the last three minutes of the middle frame gave the Vikes the lead for good. After Victoria went up 4-2 less than four minutes into the third period, Fidgett got TWU within one with just under 10 minutes to play, but that was as close as the Spartans would get.
Despite TWU outshooting the Vikes 47-36, the Spartans were forced to return to Langley with only one win to show for their two-game trip to Vancouver Island. Both the Vikes and Spartans are now 1-1 on the season.
Villeneuve was in on all three goals, assisting on both of Fidgett’s markers, as he improved his league-leading point total to seven through just two games.
Victoria got two goals from Adam Klein, including the game-winner, and singles from Shawn Mueller and Evan Warner. The Spartans PJ Buys (Newmarket, Ont.), Jake Harcoff (Surrey, B.C.), Ryan Bakken (Langley, B.C.) and Andrew Wheeler (Maple Ridge, B.C.) each picked up one assist.
In the crease, TWU back-up goalies Nic Clark (White Rock, B.C.) and Aaron Oakley (Richmond, B.C.) played 30 minutes each, with Clark starting and making 16 saves on 17 shots and Oakley coming off the bench and making 16 saves on 19 shots.
Victoria goalie Nick Babich was the star of the Vikes show, stopping 44 of the 47 shots he faced. Babich also picked up an assist on Victoria’s third goal of the night.
“It’s a disappointing loss after what we accomplished last night,” said Spartans coach Barret Kropf. “I don’t think our guys backed off any, but they’re goalie stood on his head and that was the difference maker. Our guys got frustrated and we weren’t able to capitalize and he made some pretty good saves.
“We’re going to have to regroup and keep the guys focused on improving throughout the season and we’ll bounce back.”
The Spartans went one for seven on the power play but also gave up a shorthanded marker. Victoria was one for six with the man-advantage.
The Spartans will now head out on the road for an exhibition trip to Minnesota where they will play NCAA Division I schools St. Cloud State Oct. 4 and Minnesota Mankato Oct. 5.
Game Notes: The Spartans were looking to open a season with two straight wins for the first time in their BCIHL-playing history…TWU starting goalie Silas Matthys (Wollerau, Switzerland) got the night off after helping the Spartans to a 9-3 win Friday.
VICTORIA
SIMON FRASER
OKANAGAN
LOGAN LAKE
VANCOUVER ISLAN.
