Box Score
CALGARY – Penalties, penalties and more penalties.

Despite taking nine minor penalties, the Mount Royal University Cougars men's hockey team defeated the Trinity Western University Spartans 4-3 on Friday night.

Mount Royal wasted no time to light the lamp. Tristan Zandee picked up the puck behind the Cougars' net and turned on the jets. The former Calgary Hitman rocketed all the way to Trinity Western's end before swiftly sliding a pass to Zafir Rawji who quickly ripped a shot above the glove of Spartans' veteran netminder Leon Sommer in tight. 

The Cougars had a 1-0 lead just 1:21 into the game.

Rawji's third of the year would be the only goal of the opening period.

In the second, Rawji found twine again, setting a new career high in goals with four. Tristan Zandee was the distributor once again after he blocked Daine DuBois' point shot. Zandee galloped onto a partial break but fell as he collected the puck. Despite the tumble, Zandee corralled the puck and found a streaking Rawji who put it past Sommer.

"I looked up and the goalie was out of the net and he fell; that actually threw me off so I fell too," said Zandee, recalling the unusual play. "I heard "Two, two, two" from the bench and [Rawji] and sure enough he was there. I just tried to get it to a good spot and he put a really good shot in. I was really happy but more relieved that he put it in."

Rawji's second of the game came shorthanded.

On the same powerplay, the Spartans got one back with DuBois redeeming himself. A defensive lapse left the fifth-year wide open at the blue line, allowing him to walk right in on MRU goalie Shane Farkas untouched and fire a wrist shot top left. 

With under five minutes to play in the second, Mount Royal rookie Justin Lies scored his team-leading eighth of the season to restore the two-goal advantage. 

Penalties continued to plague the Cougars and the Spartans made them pay. Matteo Lamoureux deflected Zack Whittaker's shot from the point, fooling Shane Farkas and finding the back of the net for Trinity Western's second powerplay goal of the night.

"We put the refs in some bad spots where they had to make the calls," said Zandee. "[Trinity Western] has a good powerplay. We'll have to tighten up our discipline for tomorrow's game."

Heading into the third, the Spartans trailed by just one despite being doubled in shots by MRU through 40 minutes.

Clay Hanus scored early in the final frame, putting the Cougars back up by two and extending his point streak to 13 games. Zandee was credited with an assist, giving him three in the game.

But Trinity Western just wouldn't go away. 

Christian Lowe got his team-best seventh of the year to make it 4-3 with plenty of time left in the game. 

The Spartans were given one last chance to tie the game after Remy Aquilon was called for a high sticking penalty but the Cougars penalty kill came up big when it mattered most.

Mount Royal held on for the 4-3 win, avoiding an upset from the now 2-10-1 Spartans.

"You're never going to turn down two points in this league but we weren't really playing to our standards," said Zandee. "We're focused on correcting our mistakes and bringing the standard back where it needs to be tomorrow."

Zandee and the Cougars will face off against the Spartans again Saturday at 5 p.m. at Flames Community Arenas.

Tickets to tomorrow's rematch can be purchased online. All MRU Cougars action can be streamed live on Canada West TV - Powered by BioSteel.