WINNIPEG — After dropping the first of the two-game weekend series, the Manitoba Bisons men's hockey team returned to the ice on Sunday to face the Trinity Western Spartans. The Spartans topped the Bisons by a score of 7-5 in the first game of the weekend.
Manitoba came into the game six points back of the University of Regina Cougars for the final Canada West playoff spot but the Bisons had three games in hand.
The Bisons' Ryan Carlson opened the scoring with his second of the season to give his squad a 1-0 lead halfway through the first period. Shortly after, Spartans goalie Berk Berkeliev made a sensational save to hold his team within one, but the Bisons went up 2-0 off a goal from Tony Apetagon, whose shot from below the goal line bounced off the first-year netminder.
Carlson's goal proved to be all the Bisons needed Sunday afternoon at Wayne Fleming Arena as they went on to win by a final score of 3-0. Manitoba goaltender Jeremy Link made 29 saves in the shutout performance.
"We were expecting a low scoring game today," stated Bisons' head coach Mike Sirant. "Jeremy Link played a great game for us and certainly deserved that shutout."
After earning their second win of the season on Saturday, the Spartans turn their attention to closing out their season on a high note.
"We want to be playing spoiler for the rest of the season," said Trinity Western captain Spencer Gerth. "We know we aren't going to the playoffs but we are going to try and upset these really good teams that we are coming up against next."
The second period brought some outstanding play from both goalies. With the game still at 2-0 in favour of the Bisons, Jeremy Link made a point-blank stop on Kylor Wall who was alone in the slot, maintaining Manitoba's lead of two. Not long after, Berkeliev denied Apetagon of his second goal of the game. The two teams went scoreless and the Herd took their two-goal lead into the third period.
Bison forward Colton Veloso scored his third goal of the weekend to extend his team's lead to 3-0. Devon Skoleski won the face-off clean, right onto the stick of Veloso who fired high and over the blocker of Berkeliev.
Next up, Manitoba will host Regina for a crucial two-game series against the Cougars on Feb. 4-5. Trinity Western will take on top-seeded Alberta next weekend on the road.
