Box Score LANGLEY, B.C. - Trinity Western's men's hockey team suffered a 4-1 loss against Mount Royal University Friday at George Preston Arena, in the team's home opener.
 
Luke Spadafora (Calgary) scored the Spartans only goal, tallying his second of the season to give TWU a 1-0 lead 5:10 into the first period. 
 
The Spartans (0-2-1) held the lead into the second period, before the Cougars (1-2) scored four unanswered goals, including two from Riley Sawchuk (Prince Albert, Sask.) and one each from Nolan Yaremko and Robbie Holmes.
 
Isaac Labelle (Saskatoon) made 29 saves for TWU while MRU goalie Riley Sims (Edmonton) made 22 stops and earned his team's first win of the year in his first appearance.
 
AS IT HAPPENED
The Spartans continued their early season trend of strong first period play as Spadafora opened the scoring just five minutes in. He picked the puck up cleanly off of a scrambled draw in the offensive zone and snapped a quick shot five-hole for TWU'S first home goal of the 2022-23 season.
 
The Cougars evened the scoring less than a minute into the second period and went on to tally three more goals in the third period on route to their 4-1 victory.
 
QUOTABLE
Ben Walter - TWU Head Coach
"Our aim is to use the team speed that we have and play to our strengths, which is getting in on the forecheck and using that speed. We've been able to come out and do that in first periods, and I think it shows that we can compete with any team in this league if we play the right way and we do the right things. Unfortunately, we haven't been able to put it together for 60 minutes yet. The positives are that we have that in us and we're able to get there. It's exciting for me to see, but there's still some work to do."
 
NOTABLE
·      Spadafora's first period goal was the Spartans' first ever goal against the Cougars as a member of Canada West. Trinity Western was shutout by Mount Royal in both of their meetings last year.
·      Tonight's loss was the closest margin of defeat against the Royals, as each of TWU's previous two losses against Mount Royal came by four or more goals (9-0 on Oct. 22, 2021 in TWU's home-opener and 4-0 on Oct. 23, 2021). 
·      Spartans captain Travis Verveda (Alix, Alta.) left the game after taking a high stick to the face. 
 
UP NEXT
A rematch between these two teams is set for Saturday, Oct. 8 back at George Preston Arena. Puck drop at 7:15 p.m.
 
About Spartan Athletics 
As official members of U SPORTS, the Spartans currently compete in 13 sports in the Canada West conference, including women's and men's soccer, volleyball, basketball, hockey, cross country and track & field, as well as women's rugby sevens. TWU also competes as an independent team in men's rugby. Since TWU entered U SPORTS in 1999, the Spartans have won 12 U SPORTS team championships and 29 Canada West team championships.
 
-TW-