Trojans edge Kings to earn weekend sweep
CALGARY, (Feb. 9, 2019) — Lucky number seven.
That's how many games in a row the SAIT Trojans men's hockey team has won – their latest coming by way of a 3-2 decision over the host Red Deer College Kings in their Saturday night Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) game.
The Trojans scored twice in the opening six minutes to take control of the game early.
"We came out flying and got those two goals. We talked before the game about playing a simple road game, and those two goals were important," said Trojans head coach Brent Devost. "Red Deer laid it on us pretty good for the first half of the game, so having those two to lean on and fuel us was really key."
The second place Trojans move to 16-5 on the season. Red Deer, who came into the weekend tied with SAIT for second place, now fall to fifth place at 13-7-1.
"It was huge," Devost said of his team's sweep of the Kings, which included Friday's 7-3 win at home. "It's very tight in the standings, and Red Deer's a very good and fast hockey team. We played the right way, and that is the most important thing. We'll need more of that down the stretch here."
The Trojans started the scoring when Colton McCarthy (3rd year, Salmon Arm, BC, Geographic Information Systems) went behind the goal line and found a streaking Dean Allison (4th year, Surrey, BC, Bachelor of Business Administration) wide open in front of the net for an easy tap in.
Erik Pedersen (3rd year, Airdrie, Alta., Business Administration) made it 2-0 later after cleaning up a rebound in front of a fallen Kings goalie, Arik Weersink.
Tyrell Mappin put Red Deer on the board in the second period when he beat Trojans goalie Payton Lee (2nd year, Cranbrook, BC, Power and Process Operations).
SAIT defenseman Kurtis Rutledge (1st year, Calgary, Business Administration) scored the game-winner in the third period when he pinched in off the point and went to the net for an easy tap in off another pass from behind the net by McCarthy.
Kings forward Chase Thudium scored with 13 seconds left to close the gap to 3-2, but that's how things would end.
Lee stopped 29 shots to earn the 'W' in net.
SAIT's winning streak will be put to the test next weekend when they take on the front-running NAIT Ooks in a home-and-home series – Friday night in Edmonton, Saturday night back at the Campus Centre.
"They're the top dogs, so we can't wait for Friday night in their barn," Devost said. "We hope we can keep this momentum rolling."