A season to remember for the Titans

Posted by admin on Apr 12, 2006 in Sports | 0 comments

Chuck MacKnee

The Trinity Western University Titans intercollegiate men’s hockey team won the BC Intercollegiate Championship Hockey Tournament for the second year in a row on March 19, 2006. The Titans began the tournament with a defensive struggle against Simon Fraser University, tying the game 1-1. Jordan Urness scored the lone Titans’ goal with assists from Jordan Weller and Matt Milec. Goalie Kevin Helps won the MVP for the game with a stellar performance in the net.

Saturday, the Titans overwhelmed the University of Victoria 7-0, with Josh MacKnee leading the offense with two goals and three assists. Other goals were scored by Brett Simmonds, Mark Westergard, Jordan Weller, Keith Owen, and Craig Spence. Later on Saturday, the Titans competed with the University of Northern BC Timberwolves. UNBC had a big, physical team, with many returning players from the team the Titans defeated in the finals of last year’s tournament. The Titan players were challenged to compete with dedication and actually succeeded in outhitting their larger opponents, winning the contest 6-2. Goal scorers for the Titans included Kurt Spence with two goals, Keith Owen, Clark Moran, Josh Schweitzer, and Josh MacKnee.

With two wins and a tie, the Titans faced SFU in the championship game on Sunday afternoon. The Titans were very emotionally engaged and were determined to do whatever it took to win the game. The series with SFU was even over the season, but TWU had not beaten SFU since early in the fall. After killing off several penalties, including a two man disadvantage, the Titans’ Brett Simmonds opened the scoring, aided by a nifty backhand pass from John Baumeister. Carl Ries and John Bentall set up Josh MacKnee for the second tally, and Clark Moran scored a power play goal with a beautiful assist by Bentall.

Going into the intermission up by three was a confidence booster, but SFU came out very hard after the break to narrow the score by two. The all important next goal was scored by MacKnee, who picked up the puck behind the Titans’ net and made an electrifying end-to-end rush that put the Titans up by three. Baumeister added another goal late in the game set up by a fine rush by Ries, and the game was soon over with a final score of 5-2.

All members of the team played with the common goal of winning the tournament. Each player promoted his game to excellence as they blocked shots, took hits, and made plays. The penalty killing, led by Macknee, Spence, Moran, Milec, Bentall, Urness, Weller, and Scott Robertson was phenomenal, allowing only one power play goal. Rooky scoring by Simmonds, Owen, and Schweitzer added to the confidence of the team. The goaltending was also extremely solid. Other keys to the victory were the Titans’ superior conditioning, their dedication to details, and their common belief that they could elevate their game to win.

This was a great way to say goodbye to John Bentall, Matt Milec, Kurt Spence, Craig Spence, Mark Westergard, and Josh MacKnee. It was a pleasure to be part of such an inspiring group of players. Thanks to all the students, faculty, staff, and family members who travelled across the country to support us and experience the excitement of excellent calibre intercollegiate hockey. I would like to add thanks to TWU Student Services and Recreational Services. We couldn’t have a team without their help and support.