Simon Fraser’s first meeting of the season with the Selkirk College Saints was more than just another regular season contest: it was a statement game in every sense of the phrase. SFU was looking to make their championship aspirations known by knocking off their bitter rivals, and the reigning BCIHL champions, from Castelgar.
Selkirk, playing the role of the visitors, flew out of the gate, outskating SFU and drawing two penalties. SFU killed off both powerplays, but the man advantages gave Selkirk the momentum and the visitors eventually opened the scoring on a Darnell Dyck sharp-angled shot.
Selkirk, however, gave the momentum right back to SFU with a lazy hooking penalty from Connor McLaughlin two hundred feet from his own net. SFU’s number-one powerplay in the BCIHL continued its torrid pace as Nick Sandor muscled in the puck off a scramble in front of Selkirk’s goal.
After Sandor’s tally, the ice had clearly started to tilt in SFU’s favour. Josh McKissock added to SFU’s total with a cheeky backhand that floated over Saints’ goaltender James Prigione’s glove. Jesse Mysiorek tipped in the home team’s third goal of the first period, giving SFU a 3-1 lead after one.
SFU’s forecheck and special teams were key in the victory and the Clan continued to find success off each in the second period. Late in the middle frame, a solid forecheck drew another Selkirk hooking penalty, putting the Clan back on the power play with an opportunity to pad their lead.
On the ensuing powerplay, the Clan’s leading scorer Jono Ceci finished off a slick cross ice pass from Sandor for the team’s fourth goal. After finding themselves down three goals, Selkirk showed their championship mettle by battling back and scoring a late power play goal heading into the third.
Goaltender Graeme Gordon was the sole reason SFU did not relinquish the lead in the third period. Although the Clan played solid defense, Selkirk’s skill was on full display as Saint’s forewards threw everything they had at the SFU goalie.
Gordon’s best save, and a save-of-the-year candidate, came off a Scott Swiston partial breakaway. Swiston faked the forehand shot, freezing Gordon, and pulled the puck back across the net with one hand. The net was wide open, except for Gordon’s flailing arm, which he used to turn away Swiston’s backhanded attempt.
SFU’s top line rewarded their goaltender’s effort as Sandor rushed the puck along the left wing and fed it cross crease to Ceci for the tap in.
Selkirk would add a late goal in the third but it was not enough, and SFU won their biggest game so far this season 5–3. It is apparent SFU’s mantra is to forecheck heavily and to draw penalties while doing so — A strategy that has worked to perfection so far.
Next on the schedule is a visit from the University of Victoria Vikes before the Clan hit the road for stops at Eastern Washington and a rematch with the Selkirk Saints.
