LANGLEY, British Columbia– The Trinity Western Spartans couldn't extend their winning streak against Top 10 teams to three games as the Spartans finished their 2023-24 season with a 7-2 loss to the No. 8 Alberta Golden Bears at the George Preston Recreation Centre Saturday night in Langley, B.C.
 
The loss gives the Spartans a final record of 4-23-1 in Canada West conference play, while the win improves the Bears to 18-8-2.
 
Fifth-year goalie Isaac Labelle (Saskatoon, Sask.) in his final start as a Spartan made 31 saves in the loss, while Alberta's Berlin made 20 saves to earn the win.
 
Fourth-year forward Josh Bruce (Surrey, B.C.) and fourth-year forward Daine Dubois (Williams Lake, B.C.) were the goal scorers for the Spartans. Connor McClennon, Justin Hall, Josh Prokop, Eric Florchuck, Dylan Plouffe, Alex Thacker, and Jakin Smallwood each scored once for the Golden Bears.
 
AS IT HAPPENED
Alberta's McClennon opened the scoring at 1:31 of the opening frame, with Justin Hall adding a second for the Bears with a power play goal at 9:29. TWU's Bruce cut Alberta's lead in half at 11:20. The Bears Prokop regained the two-goal lead for Alberta with another power-play goal as the first period ended with the Bears up 3-1. Alberta ended the period outshooting TWU 16-6.
 
The Spartans came out quick to start the second period with Dubois scoring a power play goal just over a minute into the period at 1:16. Florchuk broke the Spartans back with a short-handed goal for the Bears at 14:56 of the second. Alberta's Plouffe added a power-play goal at 19:22 as the Bears ended the period up 5-1. Both teams had eight shots on goal.
 
Alberta put the game out of reach with two quick goals midway through the third period. Thacker scored at 11:04, with Smallwood adding the final goal at 13:19. Alberta outshot TWU 14-8 in the period.
 
NOTABLE

• The Golden Bears outshot the Spartans 38-22.
• Alberta was 4-6 on the power play, while TWU was 1-6.
• The Spartans are now 1-9 lifetime against the Golden Bears.
• Today was TWU's seventh game in 10 days. This past Monday and Tuesday TWU split with No. 9 Saskatchewan losing 4-1 on Monday afternoon, and winning 2-1 in a Shootout on Tuesday morning.
• TWU beat the Bears 4-3 Friday night.

 
UP NEXT
Today's game concludes the 2023-24 season for the Spartans.

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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