The Trinity Western Spartans had their five-game win streak come to an end with a 2-1 shootout loss to the Simon Fraser Clan Saturday at Burnaby’s Bill Copeland Sports Centre.
The loss drops the Spartans to 6-2-0-1 for 13 points, while the win moves the Clan to 6-4-0-0 and 12 points.
Simon Fraser is now one point behind Trinity Western for second spot in the BCIHL.
The Selkirk Saints currently hold top spot with 16 points on an 8-2-0-0 record.
“Really proud of the guys they competed as champions tonight. It was a heated rivalry that was renewed tonight. We have been able to build up a battle with SFU on the scoreboard and in the corners,” TWU head coach Barret Kropf said, after the game. “Both teams completed back and forth with key players on both teams playing great hockey.”
TWU goaltender Silas Matthys made 39 saves, while his SFU counterpart Jordan Liem made 36 saves in the win.
“Silas stood on his head and our D men played unbelievable, we just ended up losing in a shootout.”
The Spartans’ Blair Murphy opened the scoring at 7:16 of the first period by converting a pass from PJ Buys.
The Clan’s Jamie Waddington tied the game less than a minute later at 8:11.
TWU’s Riley Schmidt got the Spartans the one goal lead back 31 seconds later, 8:42, with assists to Cody Stephenson and Ryan Bakken as the period ended with the Spartans up 2-1.
The next 48 minutes had no scoring, until SFU’s Jesse Mysiorek scored with 2:15 remaining in the game to force the game into overtime.
SFU had the only four shots in overtime, but were unable to score. In the shootout SFU outscored TWU 2-1, with Jamie Waddington netting the game winner.
Next up for the Spartans is the Selkirk Saints on Friday Dec. 4.
Puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m. at the Langley Events Centre.