SFU scores early and often while dismantling UVic
By Andrew Jow
Photos by Vaikunthe Banerjee
The Simon Fraser University men’s hockey team (11–3–0) returned home to the Bill Copeland Sports Centre Saturday and went back to their winning ways against the University of Victoria Vikes (6–9–0). SFU dominated from the first puck drop until the final whistle en route to an 11–2 victory.
SFU’s first goal was a sign of things to come. At the 10-minute mark of the first period, Mike Ball skated the puck from his own end of the rink all the way into the offensive zone and found number 89 Nick Sandor on the left wing. Sandor finished the great play off by going hard to the net and roofing the puck over Vikes goalie Sunny Gill. SFU continued to apply pressure throughout the period, and eventually netted another goal with 3:28 to go in the first. Captain Christopher Hoe tapped in the puck at the goalmouth after a great passing play with Ball and Trevor Milner. Ball was all over the ice early, and his efforts resulted in a four-point night.
Early in the second period Ball was at it again. The defenseman grabbed the puck behind his own net, flew through centre ice and found Milner, who sniped it top shelf. SFU added three more goals in the frame by Hoe, Ben La Vare, and Jono Ceci. All three goals were generated by SFU’s down-low pressure, as their relentless fore-check outmuscled Victoria’s defense, leading to easy, tap-in goals. Simon Fraser goalie Graeme Gordon had a solid night, turning away 31 of 33 shots. The only blemishes came in the third period.
After a breakaway goal by SFU’s Brenden Silvester and another tap-in for Christopher Hoe, Victoria finally got on the board. The Vikes’ Shawn Meuller forced a turnover at SFU’s blue line and fired a shot that not very many goaltenders could save. SFU responded to the missed shutout opportunity by adding three more goals, and Victoria found another to bring the final score to 11–2 for the home team. SFU won this game by moving through the neutral zone with ease and setting up their offense down low in Victoria’s zone. With their next three games coming on the road against Trinity Western University, Eastern Washington, and Selkirk College, SFU will look to build on their strong performance from Saturday night.
