The Trinity Western Spartans worked some overtime over the weekend, picking up the extra point both nights on the road.
The men’s hockey team won 3-2 in overtime over the Selkirk Saints on Jan. 29 and then prevailed 5-4 in a shootout over the Eastern Washington Eagles the next night.
The Spartans improved to 11-5-0-1 and they sit one point back of Selkirk and SFU for top spot in the B.C. Intercollegiate Hockey League.
The Spartans trailed 2-0 heading into the final 20 minutes against the Saints but Blair Murphy and Ryan Bakken tied things up and Jamie Russell potted the winner.
Bakken again forced overtime on Saturday night and Mattias Schmitt scored the winner in the seventh round of the shootout.
“We’re finding ways to get these games loaded onto the bus and come home with four points,” said Spartans coach Barret Kropf. “We were down and had to fight back in both games but the guys put in really gritty effort. We’re pretty banged up, with lots of nicks and bruises, so I thought the guys did a tremendous job of battling through that to come out with the victory.”
Goaltender Aaron Oakley came up with 39 saves for the win, including five in the overtime period.
The Spartans play SFU in a home-and-home series beginning tonight (Friday) at the Langley Events Centre.