WINNIPEG, Manitoba – For the first time in program history the Trinity Western Spartans earned a weekend sweep in Canada West by defeating the Manitoba Bisons 5-2 Friday night at the Wayne Fleming Arena in Winnipeg, Man.
 
Three different players scored their first goal of the season – including the game-winner by third-year forward Luke Spadafora (Calgary, Alta.) with two minutes to play in the second – as the Spartans improve to 2-8, while the Bisons drop to 0-9-1.
 
Spadafora's goal was his first of the season, while eight different Spartans recorded a point in the game.
 
Manitoba was paced by a goal and an assist from sophomore captain Jonny Hooker, who is second in Canada West with seven goals, including one in three straight, and five in his last five.
 
First-year goalies Leon Sommer (Linz, Aust.) recorded 22 saves in the win for the Spartans, while Kolby Thornton stopped 29 for the Bisons.
 
AS IT HAPPENED
First-year forward Reid Perepeluk (Yorkton, Sask.) opened the scoring just over three minutes into the first, making a slick move near the goal line before wristing home a shot low blocker. It was his first goal of the season.
 
Manitoba responded at the 6:45 mark on the power play. Alternate captain Dylan Thiessen received a pass from Hooker just outside the crease, banging home his own rebound to tie the score. It was his first goal of the season.
 
Third-year defenseman Kade McMillen (Carievale, Sask.) scored his first for TWU with just over a minute left in the first, getting just enough of a trickling puck near Thornton to give his side a 2-1 lead going into the intermission.
 
Spadafora netted the game-winner on the power play in the second, the first of two goals with the extra attacker for TWU. First-year forward Christian Lowe (Port Moody, B.C.) intercepted a pass in the Bisons' zone, finding Spadafora sprinting down the right wing with space. He wristed home the shot top shelf to make it 3-1.
 
Hooker got Manitoba back within one in the final seconds of the period. Tony Apetagon put a slap shot on net from the top of the blue line, and the rebound shot straight to Hooker, who blasted the puck home to make it 3-2.
 
Third-year forward Landon Fuller (Williams Lake, B.C.) and second-year forward Mitchell Joss (Winnipeg, B.C.) scored in the third to put the game out of reach for the Spartans. It was the second goal of the season for each, which leads TWU.
 
QUOTABLE
TWU Head Coach Ben Walter
"Very proud of our team for the effort they put forward this weekend.  To be a part of the first weekend sweep in program history is definitely something special for our players and they definitely deserve it for all the hard work they have put in so far this season. 
 
Spartan Notables:
Leon gave us another great game tonight in net, he made some big saves tonight, especially in the third period.  Reid was another bright spot, scoring his first U-Sports goal and bringing energy all game.  And Landon was huge on the penalty kill again for us tonight
 
NOTABLE

• The Spartans outshot the Bisons 34-24.
• TWU finished the night going 2/6 on the power play, while Manitoba finished the night 1/5.
• Last night the Spartans beat the Bisons 3-2
• The Spartans are 4-4 lifetime against the Bisons.

 
UP NEXT
The Spartans will be back home next week to host the MacEwan Griffins. Game time on Friday, November 10 is set for 7:15 p.m. (PT) at the George Preston Recreation Centre. On Saturday, November 11 the two teams are at the Langley Events Centre for a 1 p.m. (PT) puck drop. Both games can be seen live on CanadaWest.TV.

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 14 U SPORTS team championships and 34 Canada West team championships.
 
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