WINNIPEG, Manitoba – The Trinity Western Spartans had a slow start and were unable to get the weekend sweep as the Spartans fell 7-2 to the Manitoba Bisons Saturday afternoon at the Wayne Fleming Arena in Winnipeg, Man.
 
The loss drops the Spartans to 3-16-0-1 while the Bisons improve to 4-12-0-1 with the win.
 
TWU fell behind 2-0 just over five minutes into the game and 4-0 before they got on the board nine minutes into the second period. TWU cut the lead to two goals early in the third but were unable to get closer as the Bisons pulled away to earn the weekend split.
 
Scoring for the Spartans were first-year forward Connor Farren (Cloverdale, B.C.) with his sixth of the season and third-year centre Jonathan Krahn (Chilliwack, B.C.) with his sixth of the season.
 
Scoring for the Bisons were Eric Alarie with two goals for five on the season, Codey Behun with his fourth of the season, Dawson Pasternak with his first, Jonny Hooker with his 11th of the season, Skyler Bruce with his eighth of the season, and Michael King with his second of the season.
 
Second-year goalie Leon Sommer (Linz, Aust.) made 10 saves in 20 minutes, and third-year goalie Raphael Audet (Rimouski, Que.) with 10 saves in 40 minutes in the TWU loss, while Kolby Thornton made 34 saves in the Bisons win.
 
UP NEXT
The Spartans will return home for a home-and-home series with the UBC Thunderbirds. TWU will be in Vancouver on Friday, January 17 at 7:30 p.m. at the Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre, and at the Langley Events Centre in Langley, B.C. at 7 p,m. on Saturday, January 18. The games can be seen live on Canada West TV.
 
NOTABLE 

• The Spartans outshot the Bisons 36-27
• Special teams proved to be the difference as the Spartans finished 1-5 on the power-play, while the Bisons finished 4-4.
• TWU trailed 3-0 after the first period, and 4-1 after second period.
• Last night the Spartans defeated the Bisons 6-3.
• TWU is currently 5-7 lifetime against Manitoba.
• Three Stars: MAN Riley Stotts, Eric Alarie, and Dawson Pasternak.
• TWU has won four of the last six games that they have played against Manitoba.
• The top three teams in each division qualify for the Canada West playoffs.

 
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.
 
About Trinity Western University
Recognized for quality, TWU has received seven consecutive A+ rankings for Quality of Teaching and Learning, holds three Canada Research Chairs, and wins national championships in U SPORTS. More importantly, lives are changed at TWU through its whole-person, Christ-centred approach to education. With a wide array of undergraduate, graduate, and adult degree-completion programs, TWU equips leaders of character and competence to make a positive impact in the lives of others.
 
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