A goaltender who played hockey for the Trinity Western University’s Spartans before graduating this spring has gone pro in Europe.
TWU alumnus Silas Matthys is continuing his career back home in Switzerland, after the BCIHL all-time wins leader signed a professional contract with HC Ambri-Piotta of the country’s top tier National League.
Soon after signing, Matthys, who helped lead TWU to its first ever BCIHL championship in 2017-18, was loaned to HC Ambri-Piotta’s farm team, the HCB Ticino Rockets, where he has had immediate success, earning Player of the Game honours in each of his first two contests.
“Silas is a world class goalie and he has earned this opportunity in the top league in Europe and I know we will be hearing lots about him in the future,” said Spartans coach Barret Kropf.
“He is a leader on and off the ice and his ability to live life and play hockey with excellence will garner much attention over there. He has already shown such promise in his first two games.”
The netminder, who hails from Wollerau, Switzerland, left the Spartans as the league’s career leader in save percentage (amongst goalies who have played at least 15 games) at .922.
He finished his career as a four-time BCIHL all-star, was twice named the league’s top goaltender and, in 2014-15, was the BCIHL’s Most Valuable Player.
As a Spartan, he also earned the prestigious Complete Champion Award, which is awarded to “senior student-athletes who are outstanding in athletic achievements, who advance to the edge of their abilities both academically and personally, and who also demonstrate leadership and a desire to grow spiritually.”
The Spartans will open their BCIHL regular season schedule Oct. 5-6 when they host Vancouver Island University at the Langley Events Centre.