A playoff spot is in the books and first place is in their sights thanks to a six-game winning streak.
The Trinity Western Spartans men’s hockey team holds an 11-point lead over the Victoria Vikes with six games to play in the B.C. Intercollegiate Hockey League regular season.
The Spartans won twice last week on home ice at the Langley Events Centre, knocking off the Simon Fraser Clan 5-3 and Victoria 5-1.
The victories improved TWU to 14-2-0-2.
“When I first got to TWU, we were never expected to win whenever we played,” said captain Blair Murphy. “Now we come into every game thinking we can win and take every single point and it feels like we deserve it.
“While this is just the start, clinching a playoff spot this early just shows how far this program has come.”
Jake Harcoff, Mattias Schmitt and Murphy had a goal and an assist apiece to lead the Spartans in the first game while PJ Buys and Grange Gordon had a goal each. SFU’s Tyler Basham led the Clan with a pair of goals while Jesse Williamson had one.
Spartans goalie Silas Matthys made 41 saves in the victory in the first game and followed that up with a 37-save performance the following night.
“We continue to get all-star play out of Silas and some of our younger guys are really starting to contribute and make plays,” said coach Barret Kropf.
The coach also complimented the play of the blue-line pairing of Murphy and Josiah Cockrill.
Cody Fidgett led the team with two goals and an assist while Schmitt had a goal and two helpers. Buys and Sam Gemmell had the other Spartan tallies. Adam Kleim was the lone Clan player to beat Matthys.
The Spartans play their final home game at the LEC on Jan. 30 when they host the Eastern Washington Eagles.
