The British Columbia Intercollegiate Hockey League has a new top team, and it’s coached by Estevan Minor Hockey product Barret Kropf.
The Trinity Western University (TWU) Spartans’ Kropf won coach of the year for the league last week and on the weekend his Langley-based team won the league title for the first time in school history. They had made it to the final in each of the last two seasons before this but were unable to claim the title before their 4-1 win over the Selkirk College Saints Friday.
“It’s really hard to win the championship and I think we found that last year, losing with seven seconds left,” said Kropf, a former Estevan resident who was also a Bruins player and former youth pastor in the city. “I think our guys carried through from last season and found ways to win with their fitness level.”
Last year, they lost to the University of Victoria in Game 3 of the best of three on a goal with 7.2 seconds left after tying the game with 36 seconds left. There was no such misfortune this year.
“Every member of our team and our staff were committed to being 7.2 seconds better,” Kropf said. “So, that shows in the classroom. Our GPA was up this year, our fitness level and testing were off the charts and because of that, we hardly had any significant injuries. All that stuff adds up and you’re able to win games and be successful.”
Since being named head coach of the Spartans in 2013, he’s won coach of the year three times and the team has made the final in the league four times.
With a 21-3-0-1 record, TWU finished first in the league a year after they graduated ten players from the team that was 7.2 seconds short of glory.
“That’s a pretty significant number of leaders that are leaving your locker room,” he said. “In terms of the culture that we have within our program, we worked hard in the offseason and were able to add in some talented players from Saskatchewan, Alberta and here in B.C. that have some Western (Hockey) League experience as well as Junior A, and those guys helped out this year. We’ve got a really good core of second and third and even fourth year guys that really stepped up and the blend of them together was good. Our culture’s really strong.”
Having veteran goaltender Silas Matthys playing as well as he has through his five years at the school also helped significantly.
“He’s rewritten the league’s record book with wins and save percentage and all that other stuff, ands he’s been so close over the last couple of years,” Kropf said. “For him to win that championship on the weekend, it was really nice to see the excitement on his face.”
The Swiss-born Matthys came into the league the same year as Kropf, winning three games in 14 appearances with a goals against average in the late-80s-Quebec-Nordiques range of 4.05 and save percentage of .893. He finished his last regular season with the Spartans with a 2.27 goals against average and a .923 save percentage and in the playoffs this year, he was 4-0 with a 1.50 GAA and .950 SVP.
“Back five years ago when he came across, he could barely speak English and now he’s a 4.0 (GPA) business degree and he’s working on his Masters,” Kropf said. “He’s just one of those guys on and off the ice that works his tail off and to see him be rewarded, it’s really satisfying.”
With all they accomplished this year, Kropf still felt the coach of the year nod from the league was ‘humbling’.
“I think that it’s awkward because although it’s my name that gets engraved on a trophy, it’s impossible to do without a really supportive family, like my wife (Bridget) and the staff that surround me could all be coach of the year themselves with their own team. I’m just really thankful I’ve got such a great group of people to work with. As cliché as it sounds, it really takes a team effort to win an award like that.”
Now, Kropf and the Spartans have the unenviable task of trying to match what they did this year with the potential for a TWU-peat after the best regular season and playoffs.
“We graduate some really solid players, guys like Silas and (defenceman Stefan) Gonzales), guys that have been all-stars in this league for some time,” Kropf said. “We’re working hard at recruiting some players and we’re going to add some more guys from Saskatchewan, Alberta and B.C. I think on paper, we’re going to be able to fill those holes.
“And in terms of our message to the guys when we have them lined up on the weekend, is enjoy the spoils that come with the victory but at the same time, know that as soon as we’re back into training mode in a couple of weeks, the trophy is put in the trophy case and the banner is going to the rafters and last season is over. We’ve got a new set of goals and a new championship to win.”
