Titans tie UCFV 2-2

Posted by admin on Jan 23, 2007 in Sports | 1 comment

Competition remains as tight as ever in the BC Intercollegiate Hockey League, as the Titans played to a 2-2 draw against the UCFV Cascades last Friday night. This brings the Titans record to 2-3-4 in league play.

After a loss January 13th against SFU, the Titans were looking to rebound as they laced up their skates in Abbotsford last weekend. With the return of three key players coming off suspensions, the Titans were hoping to be reenergized for the first meeting of the semester against UCFV.

The first period ended without either team registering a goal. The Titans played most of the period short-handed, but still managed to keep shots coming from the outside, where goalie Kevin Helps had no trouble stopping pucks. In the second period, the penalties went the other way, and the Titans were able to capitalize on one such occasion. After settling the puck down in the offensive zone, freshman Mark Mattson fed the puck into the corner to Carl Ries. From the corner, Ries pulled the puck behind the net, and then scored a pure goal-scorer’s goal, banking the puck off the goalie, who was leaning off the post, expecting a centering pass instead of the shot.

About five minutes later, after a scramble in front of the Titans’ net, a penalty shot was awarded to UCFV. The UCFV player pulled a move Jussi Jokinen would be proud of, and put the puck in behind Helps to tie the game at 1-1. The Titans responded quickly, though, as Ryan Walter came down the right wing and roofed a hard wrist shot over the goalie’s outstretched glove. The period ended with the Titans up 2-1.

After a defensive zone breakdown, UCFV tied the game 13 minutes into the last frame. Then, led by the outstanding goaltending of Helps and the penalty-killing heroics of Brock Grin, the Titans survived all penalties assessed to them in the 3rd, including a debatable call for elbowing following a thunderous open-ice hit delivered by forward Nick Astle.

Reflecting on the game, leading scorer Josh Schweitzer said, “Well, it’s definatly nice to get a point out of it, but I know we could have gotten the win. There were a lot of bounces going the other way, but that’s hockey for you.”

“We just have to regroup and get ready to play UVic this weekend,” Schweitzer added. “They make real quick passes, and break out of their zone very well, so we’re definately going to have to bring our best game.”

The UVic Vikes will be swinging through the Lower Mainland this weekend, playing SFU on Friday night, and taking on the Titans January 27, at 8:45pm. Students who bring their TWU student card will receive free admittance into the game, which will be held at the Langley Twin Rinks. The first 100 people in the stands will be served pizza during the first intermission, and draws will be held for Titans gear.

For more information, visit www.twutitanshockey.com.