Duncan makes 49 saves in debut as Spartans top Red Bull Salzburg U20s

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Trinity Western University goaltender Allistair Duncan made 49 saves as he helped the Spartans to a 4-2 win over EC Red Bull Salzburg’s Red Bull Hockey Series (U20) Team in exhibition action Saturday at the Queen’s Park Arena.

Duncan, who was making his first start with the Spartans, stopped 38 shots in the first two periods before a more defensive third period saw him make 11 saves en route to the win.

Red Bull Salzburg, who is on a tour of British Columbia in which it is playing a variety of Junior A teams, opened the scoring less than two minutes into the game, but TWU responded with three first period goals to take a lead it wouldn’t relinquish.

The teams traded goals in the second period, but the Austrian side never got closer than two goals. Riley Schmidt, Dawson Sawatzky and Ryan Scott each scored for the Spartans in the opening frame while Matthew Vela scored in the second period.

Red Bull Salzburg’s Maximilian Egger and Lucas Kainz tallied markers for the visitors in the first and second periods respectively.

Goalie Mark Vlahovic made 14 saves on 18 shots for Red Bull Salzburg. Red Bull Salzburg is now 1-2 on their B.C. road trip, having opened with an 8-6 win over the West Kelowna Warriors before falling to the Penticton Vees 6-1.

“It was a late start, so it made it difficult for our guys to get into a rhythm, so we really relied on our systems play,” said Spartans coach Barret Kropf, who rolled out a rather young lineup. “Red Bull has some nice plays that generate a bit of offence and maybe it looks a little lopsided on the shot clock, but our scoring opportunities off of turnovers were fantastic and we were able to capitalize."

"Defensively, we eliminated rebounds, but really it was the Al Duncan Show. He played a magnificent game and played with a lot of confidence. It was good for our guys to have some of our younger get to play in a game like this and we’re really appreciative of Red Bull for giving us the opportunity.”

Egger opened the scoring at 1:52 of the first period, only to see the Spartans reply with three goals in just over four minutes. By the time the game was seven minutes old, TWU held a 3-1 edge.

In the second period, Red Bull Salzburg outshot TWU 23-3, but all the scoring happened in the first minute. Vela scored for the Spartans 32 seconds into the period and Kainz responded just 11 seconds later.

Holding a 4-2 lead through 40 minutes, the Spartans slowed things down in the third period and held off Red Bull Salzburg – the visitors had only 11 shots to TWU’s five in the final frame – to earn a two-goal win.

The Spartans resume their BCIHIL regular season schedule Jan. 29-30, when they will travel to play Selkirk and Eastern Washington.

Game Notes: TWU is coming off a 6-2 win over Victoria on Friday at the Langley Events Centre…Due to local ice availability, the was game played at the Queen’s Park Arena and the puck officially dropped at 9:38 p.m.…Red Bull Salzburg will play the Vernon Vipers Monday and the Victoria Grizzlies Wednesday.