RECAP | Red Leafs sweep weekend doubleheader against Trinity Western

BURNABY, BC – The Simon Fraser University Red Leafs Non-Conference squad completed a sweep of a weekend doubleheader versus provincial rivals the Trinity Western University Spartans.

The games were played on September 20th and 21st at the BIll Copeland Sports Centre in Burnaby with the Red Leafs prevailing in both matchups, winning the first game 6-4 and the latter showdown 7-2. These victories improved the Red Leafs record on the season to 2-1-0, with their only loss coming to the UBC Thunderbirds on September 13th.

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After dropping said opening matchup to UBC, it was imperative that the Red Leafs take advantage of what had to have been a tired Spartans side, having lost to UBC the night prior to game one versus SFU. But, in the first game of the doubleheader it was the Spartans who would strike first as seven and a half minutes in, forward Jonathan Krahn sniped a  short-side shot on goaltender Cale Dolan, who was making his season debut. This marked the second straight game that SFU had conceded the first goal of the game. The Red Leafs would end the first period down 1-0.

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But just like in the UBC game SFU would strike early in the second, with Luca Grabas wiring home a shot from the slot off a sweet feed from Walker Erickson. The momentum would continue for SFU as they would score two more goals in quick succession as Zac Maxwell scored on a penalty shot, before Max Potvin scored his second in as many games.

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Trinity Western would score before the end of the period to make the score 3-2 going into the final interval. 

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Only a few minutes into the third period the Spartans would level the game, as Port Moody native Christian Lowe would snipe one past Dolan from the right faceoff circle.

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But SFU would not crumble under the adversity, with Caleb Huffman and Kiano Robinson both scoring within a minute of each other to give the Red Leafs a lead they would not surrender.

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Triunity Western did score once more with 8:03 to go in the game, but Max Potvin would seal the match with an empty netter to seal a 6-4 victory for Simon Fraser.

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One area SFU Head Coach Mark Coletta wanted to see improve in Game 2 of the double header was the power play, which went 0-9 against TWU and had struggled so far this season: “The power play is much better than it’s been in the past, couple sloppy things that we gotta fix, but we figured out a way to win in the third period, which is big for a young group.”

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Game Two versus Trinity Western would be a much more lopsided affair, one that SFU took the lead early on in the game and would not look back.

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The fun began when Walker Erickson continued his hot stretch to begin the year as he scored off a pass from Max Potvin on an odd man rush. However, the Spartans would score on a two on one of their own as Luca Spatafora buried a rebound off of goalie Gabe Gratton who received his first start in SFU colours.

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But not even a minute later, Red Leafs centre Lucas Ceccarelli scored on a partial breakaway to give SFU a one goal lead heading into the second period, after a first period where SFU controlled most of the play.

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The second period would finally end SFU’s power play drought as Caleb Huffman scored on a point shot following a pass from Erickson. The positive momentum would continue for the home side as left winger Holden Cardinal cashed in his first of the year following a sweet passing play from Jimmy Darby and Austin Fraser.

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But it was not all good news as SFU D-Man Dylan Brooks took a huge hit to the head from Daine Dubois and did not return to the game. Dubois would receive five minutes for illegal check to the head as well as a game misconduct. Postgame, Coach Coletta said Brooks did not show any signs of a concussion and would likely resume skating in 2-3 days.

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Another Spartan penalty would put SFU on a five on three, Potvin and Ceccarelli scored to make it a 6-1 game at the end of the second period.

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The third period was a rough and tumble affair with multiple scrums breaking out, including SFU defensemen Darby getting a ten minute misconduct.

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Both teams would tally a goal in the period, Connor Ferrin for the Spartans and Max Potvin scored his second of the game, leading SFU to a win and a sweep of the doubleheader.

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SFU will now go on the road to face UBC this Saturday before beginning a long stretch of games against American NCAA squads, the first one being October 5th vs. Long Island University. The Red Leafs Non-Conference squad plays its next home game November 1st versus Maryville.

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As for the BCIHL Red Leafs, they begin their season October 4th at the Bill Copeland Sports Centre against the Okanagan Lakers at 7:00PM.

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