The Trinity Western Spartans opened the new season of 2014-15 with a narrow win 5-4 over the defending BCIHL champions in a rematch of last years final.
The Spartans came out on the checking game and created several scoring chances holding a huge edge in play and shots against the Saints from Selkirk College of 11-3.
The midway mark of the game Mike Vlanich had to be sharp keeping his team in the game with at least 6 game saving saves.
Trinity Western finally opened the scoring on the PP with under 14 minutes remaining that saw Ryan Bakken beat Vlanich giving the home team a one goal lead.
Shots were 17-6 for the Spartans in the first period alone as Saints goalkeeper Vlanich made 16 quality saves in the opening period alone.
The Spartans extended the lead to 2-0 scoring 59 seconds into the second as PJ Buys notched one, but the Saints got one back as Taylor Branszen got one three minutes later cutting the lead to 2-1.
Cody Fidgett, former Delta Ice Hawk got his first of two goals a minute later extending the lead to 3-1, but not before Selkirk got on the PP as Stefan Virtanen beat Silas Matthys late cutting the lead to 3-2.
As the teams headed into the final period the visitors held a 13-6 edge in shots in the period.
Fidgett notched his second of the game on the PP four minutes into the third extending their lead to 4-2, but not before the defending Champs saw Logan Proulx slide one past Matthys, cutting the lead to 4-3.
PJ Buys scored his second of the game for the TWU with under 8 minutes after taking a pass from Fidgett restoring the two goal game.
The defending Champs had no quit and after pulling their goalkeeper for a extra attacker Logan Proulx scored his second of the night making it 5-4, with only 20 seconds remaining.
The Saints won the faceoff in the Spartans zone, but Matthys came up huge making a game save stop of Virtanen at the buzzer to preserve the victory.
Shots in the game were 37-36 for Selkirk as Matthys was credited with 33 saves in the game and Vlanich for the Saints 32.
Next action for the Spartans has them in a home and home series with the Simon Fraser University Clan as the first part of the series is played at Bill Copeland Sports Centre Friday at 7pm followed by a visit by SFU to the Langley Event Centre Saturday night also a 7pm puck drop.
TWU Mens Volleyball the defeated Thompson Rivers University in straight sets 25-23, 25-22 and 25-20.
About Sportswave
Sportswave Productions is located in Delta, BC.
Sportswave promotes/broadcasts Amateur Sports within the Lower Mainland.
Sportswave Productions is owned and operated by Steve Erickson who has a long standing career within the broadcasting and refereeing for Minor League Sports in BC and across Canada.
Steve is recognized by his peers, associations, communities and colleagues for his endless contributions to multiple Amateur Sports within the Lower Mainland.
Steve was recognized as Volunteer of the Year Award by the Delta Chamber of Commerce in 2015 and inducted into the Vancouver Canadians Baseball Hall of Fame in 2017.
He was recognized by Ravi Kahlon, BC’s MLA Minister for Jobs, Economic Recovery and Innovation in September 11, 2017.
In December 2022 he was Awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Pin.
Awarded Rotary Paul Harris Fellow Award for tangible for significant assistant given for the better understanding and friendly relations among peoples of the world.
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