Trojans fall at home to Griffins

CALGARY, ALTA., (Feb. 15, 2020) - SAIT Trojans men's hockey coach Tyler Drader thought his team should have had that one.

Untimely penalties and an inability to capitalize on good chances cost the Trojans, as they fell to the visiting MacEwan Griffins 6-5 in their Saturday night Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) game played inside SAIT Arena.

"It's frustrating to come away with the loss there," said Drader after the game. "We're just taking some unnecessary penalties, which seems to be a reoccurring theme. We also had a five minutes of power play time to start the third period, two of those which were 5-on-3, and we don't score. Those are difference makers right there."

SAIT falls to 12-8-1-3 on the season. MacEwan moves to 17-6-1.

"We can play with anyone in this league, but 9 out of 10 times, we're beating ourselves," Drader added. "MacEwan is a good hockey team, so you can't give them odd-man rushes or power play after power play. I'm just hoping we figure it out for when it matters."

After going down 1-0 thanks to a goal by MacEwan's Bryan Arneson, SAIT responded with a pair of goals off the stick of Zach McNeill (3rd year, Calgary, Business Administration) - the second of which came on an end-to-end rush as their power play expired.

MacEwan evened the score before the period was out on a 5-on-3 power play goal by Andrew Kartusch.

MacEwan added two more in the second period from Cam Gotaas and Nicholas Correale before SAIT's Sam Stormoen (2nd year, Calgary, Petroleum Engineering Technology) stopped the momentum with a easy tap in off a nice pass from teammate Rock Ruschkowski (2nd year, Calgary, Respiratory Therapy) to cut the lead to 4-3.

The third period began with the Griffins holding a 4-3 lead, but SAIT started the frame with a five-minute power play. Just 46 seconds into the man advantage, Kartusch took a high sticking penalty, which allowed SAIT a lengthy 5-on-3 power play.

SAIT could not make good, which Drader spoke to as the difference in the game.

"We went 0-for-8 on the power play and they scored twice on theirs," he said. "That's the difference."

The Trojans were able to finally tie the game when Eric Krienke (3rd year, Calgary, Business Administration) was sent in on a breakaway and beat Griffins goalie Marc-Olivier Daigle top corner.

The celebration was short-lived however, as MacEwan's Jordan Karpyshen scored just 36 seconds later to restore their lead.

As the Trojans pushed to find the equalizer, they instead were called for another penalty. On the ensuing power play, MacEwan's Brett Smythe scored an all-important insurance marker.

"Any time we get any momentum and things are going our way, we just seem to shoot ourselves in the foot," Drader stated.

Krienke added his second of the night with less than a minute left, but that's as close as it would get.

SAIT will now turn their attention to a bit of an odd week. They will host the University of Alberta-Augustana Vikings in a rare Thursday night game at home at 7pm, before taking on the Vikings in an outdoor game scheduled for Falun, Alta., on Saturday, Feb. 22 at 1pm.

"Quick turnaround, but it is what it is," Drader finished. "We just need to make the most of it."