Spartans look to bounce back vs. UVic in 2017 BCIHL Finals rematch

Trinity Western will host the University of Victoria this Friday at the Langley Events Centre in a rematch of last year’s B.C. Intercollegiate Hockey League championship series, which saw the Spartans fall to the Vikes in dramatic fashion.

While the teams already met once in the season-opener, Friday’s contest marks the first time Victoria has returned to the LEC since winning the league title.

The Spartans are coming off a 2-1 loss against Vancouver Island University in a game that saw TWU outshoot the Mariners 43-26. It was the first loss for TWU, who previously topped the Vikes in their season-opener, with TWU scoring five goals in the final 6:07 of the third period to secure a 6-3 win.

TWU’s Dirk de Wall continues to lead TWU in points this year, with four goals and an assist while Spartans goalie Silas Matthys has started all three games for TWU this year, posting a 2.01 goals against average and a .910 save percentage. His goals saved above average is third in the league at 2.28.

The Vikes' Patrick Holland, who has five NHL games on his résumé after earning a stint with Montreal in 2013-14, was in on all three goals in Victoria’s only game, scoring twice and adding an assist.

TWU’s power play is just one for 14 this year while the Vikes are two for six with the man-advantage.

In last year’s BCIHL championship series, the Spartans took Game 1 on the road, winning 5-0. However, back in Langley, TWU lost Game 2 in overtime 2-1 before falling in Game 3, when Victoria scored with seven seconds left to win 3-2.

TRINITY WESTERN SPARTANS (2-1)
BCIHL Standings: 2nd
Last Weekend: VIU (2-1 L)
Streak: 1 loss
Regular Season Form: W-W-L

VICTORIA VIKES (0-1)
BCIHL Standings: 5th (tied)
Last Weekend: TWU (6-3 L)
Streak: 1 loss
Regular Season Form: L