The Trinity Western Spartans suffered their first home-ice loss of the season, dropping a 3-1 decision to the Victoria Vikes.
The Spartans hockey team was outshot 18-6 in the first period and trailed 1-0 in the BCIHL game last week (Oct. 31).
The Vikes tacked on a goal in both the second and third periods before Mattias Schmitt got the home side on the board. It was his fourth goal in the past three games.
Cameron Rowat, Cole Conway and Carsen Willans had the Victoria goals.
The loss dropped the Spartans to 5-2-0-1 on the season and their 11 points are three ahead of the second-place Vikes (4-3-0-0).
Victoria’s Scott Legault made 36 saves for the win.
“I thought we had a terrible week of practice and preparation,” said Spartans coach Barret Kropf.
“We’ve gone through quite a bit in terms of a heavy front-loaded schedule. So, I’m not sure where the guys were at – if they were starting to get worn down or what. But there’s no excuses. Going into a bye week, we have to have a better effort.
“Having said that, Victoria continues to outwork everybody and their goalie stood on his head. That’s why they’re where they’re at. They earned those two points tonight fair and square. We weren’t mentally ready in the first 20 minutes and we were playing catch-up the rest of the way. We have to find a way to work as hard as they do if we are going to get results against them.”
The Spartans are back in action on Nov. 14 when they host the Selkirk Saints.
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Two members of the Trinity Western Spartans earned accolades for their play last month.
Cody Fidgett was named the B.C. Intercollegiate Hockey League’s player of the month for October while Jake Harcoff was named defenceman of the month.
In eight games, Fidget finished with 11 goals and 18 points.
Harcoff has a dozen assists through the season’s first eight games, and with him quarterbacking the team’s power play, the Spartans lead the league with an eye-popping 37.8 per cent success rate.
