Spartans forward Jarrett Fontaine (Humboldt, Sask.) and Logan Casavant (Melfort, Sask.) each recorded a goal and two assists as Trinity Western defeated Vancouver Island 5-1 Saturday at the Nanaimo Ice Centre.
Dylan Cusmano (Abbotsford, B.C.), Elijah Vilio (Aldergrove, B.C.), and Hayden Guilderson (Chilliwack, B.C.) also scored for the league-leading Spartans (15-1-0-1), who have now won three consecutive games.
Spartans goaltender Lucas Mills (Burnaby, B.C.) stopped 24 of 25 Mariners shots to pick up his 10th win of the season (10-1-0). Mariners goaltender Jeremy Balyk turned aside 34 of 39 shots.
Mariners forward Brett Witala scored the lone goal for Vancouver Island.
Guilderson got the Spartans on the board first, sending a Josh Bruce (Surrey, B.C.) feed past Balyk just 2:32 into the game.
Witala then responded with just over two minutes left in the frame, beating Mills for his 13th goal of the season. The marker put Witala in a tie with teammate Garrett Dunlop for the BCIHL lead in the category.
After the remainder of the first went scoreless, TWU regained its one-goal lead in the second period, as Cusmano scored with 14:12 left to make it 2-1 Spartans. Captain Fontaine would then pot his sixth goal of the season just five minutes later to push the Mariners deficit to two goals.
TWU then recorded their only powerplay goal of the night in the third period, as Elijah Vilio scored his eighth goal of the season to make it 4-1 Spartans at 6:10 of the third. The goal moved Vilio past fellow Spartans defenceman Travis Verveda (Alix, Alta.) for the league lead for defenders.
With 7:04 to play, Trinity Western struck one final time, as Casavant buried a Fontaine feed past Balyk to cap the Spartans 5-1 victory.
TWU went 20% on the man advantage (1 for 5), while Vancouver Island was held scoreless (0 for 2).
QUOTABLE
Barret Kropf – TWU Head Coach
“Tonight was a great continuation from our win last night. Our guys continued to use their speed and buy into our system. The entire team was tested but played as a full unit, and it was great to see. Some of our top-end guys really carried the scoring load, with Fontaine and Guilderson both finding ways to contribute.
“Jarrett was hands down our best player this weekend. With all of our injuries he put the team on his back like he has continually done throughout his career with us. He’s become such a clutch player – blocking shots, taking hits, and being a leader for us. It’s always a great night when our captain is doing those things. All in all, a great couple wins for our group.”