After starting the 2014-15 regular season with four straight road losses, the Selkirk College Saints have rebounded with four straight wins including a pair of convincing victories over a powerhouse Simon Fraser University Clan at the Castlegar Recreation Complex on the weekend.
“We have turned a corner the last few weeks not only in games but in practices,” says Saints head coach Alex Evin. “We are hoping to continue moving forward game by game.”
On Saturday night the Saints’ rookie Ryan Edwards capped off a three-goal third period with a short-handed marker into an empty net as the Clan tried desperately to gain ground during a 6-on-4 powerplay. It was the same story all period and most of the game as the Saints put together one of their best complete outings of the season to stymie the Clan and bounce to a 5-2 final.
Earlier in the period, the Saints took hold of an otherwise high tempo match as former Smoke Eater Logan Proulx and Steven Pantazopoulos both finished off beautiful passing plays to break a 2-2 tie.
Selkirk’s Jackson Garrett and Proulx scored for the home team while Saylor Preston and Trent Murdoch notched markers for the visitors.
Rookie netminder Steven Glass was solid in net and earned his first BCIHL win making 22 saves.
In Friday’s tilt the Saints took advantage of some SFU bus legs by tallying four times in the first period. Goals for Selkirk came from Castlegar native Jesse Knowler, Stefan Gonzales, Alex Milligan and Garrett.
James Prigione notched the win after the Clan could only solve him twice in 37 shots over the rest of the game. The final score was 4-2 Saints.
The Saints will look to keep its momentum going with road games against Trinity Western University and a rematch with SFU.
Both wins came at a critical time in the young BCIHL season. Only three points separate last place and first, which Selkirk now holds in a tie along with Trinity Western and UVic.