A win cannot always be measured by numbers on a scoreboard.
That is the way the Simon Fraser University hockey club must be feeling following an exciting one-goal loss to storied NCAA Division I program University of North Dakota before approximately 1,000 fans in the finale at the Great Northwest Showcase on Saturday.
The Clan rebounded from an 8-1 loss to Princeton University on Friday to put a scare into the 23rd-ranked University of North Dakota - a program with 15 NHL draft picks on its roster - before falling 4-3 to the Fighting Sioux on senior captain Dillon Simpson's second goal of the game with less than five minutes left to play in the third period.
"We were solid for 40 minutes yesterday, and then we kind of let it get away from us. But we switched it up today and stuck to it. I was really proud of the boys tonight," said SFU player of the game goalie Graeme Gordon.
Gordon was a big key to SFU's success, stopping 47 of 51 shots, including penalty shot attempt late in the middle period by Rocco Grimaldi.
After watching the University of B.C. upset North Dakota 3-2 in overtime on Friday, Gordon said he swore to be at his best when SFU met the Fighting Sioux.
"I felt I had to be big against North Dakota," Gordon said. "All day I was thinking about today."
Although lacking in overall team speed, SFU played the right system to keep the quick North Dakota attack to the outside, while allowing the Clan to keep the score close and take advantage of its chances when they came.
After a scoreless first period, SFU newcomer Scott Brkich got his chance, tying the contest 1-1 with a shot from the point on the power play in reply to Grimaldi's earlier extra-man goal.
SFU then took an early third-period lead on Taylor Piller's shot on goal off a quick counter up the right-side boards with Nick Sandor creating a distraction in front of the net.
North Dakota took the lead 3-2 on a pair of goals less than a minute apart when Stephane Pattyn snapped an unassisted goal on a three-on-two break at 7:10.
But SFU wasn't done. Sandor cashed in with an easy tap-in from Jono Ceci to tie the contest with SFU on a five-on-three power play.
"It's awesome. It's something that we could take on if we were at that level and playing these teams all the time," said SFU head coach Mark Coletta.
Plans are already in the works to get commitments from four more Div. I teams over the next two years to headline future showcases, said Coletta.
"Our job is to do it again next year," said Coletta. "I hope the fans enjoyed it."
One program that certainly did was the University of British Columbia, which swept its two games with the U.S. schools for a second straight year at the showcase.
UBC followed up its win over North Dakota with a 1-0 victory over Princeton in the early game on Saturday.
Last year, the Thunderbirds defeated club teams from Arizona State and Oklahoma universities.
"It shows how good Canadian hockey is," said UBC head coach Milan Dragicevic. "It's a big step for our program. We've never swept a NCAA series in the 12 years I've been here."
For former Western Hockey League Seattle Thunderbird veteran forward Luke Lockhart it was a fun way to get ready for the conference season at hand.
"I think we proved a lot," said Lockhart after Saturday's win over Princeton. "It was obviously a big accomplishment. We now want to take that and we're looking to finish our season, and have a big push."
This Saturday, SFU takes on Thompson Rivers University at the Bill Copeland Sports Centre at 7 p.m.
