SFU, TWU host BCIHL regular season openers this weekend vs. Mariners

Vancouver Island University will look to extend an early season two-game winning streak this weekend when they travel to the Lower Mainland to take on Simon Fraser University and Trinity Western.

The Mariners are coming off a pair of 4-2 victories over UVic and Selkirk College, with Garrett Dunlop netting four points in the process.

On Friday, VIU will visit Burnaby and take on SFU on in the Clan's home opener. SFU has a revamped roster featuring 16 new players, including a pair of BCHL standouts in Ty Westgard and Trevor Ayre. 

The Clan topped TWU in their only preseason game against B.C. Intercollegiate Hockey League competition before dropping back-to-back contests against NCAA D1 opponents Holy Cross and Sacred Heart.

Much like their neighbors from Burnaby, Trinity Western sat out the first weekend of BCIHL regular season play as they travelled south to face Colorado College and Air Force in a pair of NCAA exhibition games. The Spartans also split a pair of preseason match-ups against Alberta college squads in Castlegar, beating SAIT and coming up short against Portage College.

TWU will host the Mariners on Saturday evening and debut a line-up that returns much of their championship-winning team from the spring. Forwards Josh Bruce and Graydon James, and goaltender Isaac Labelle are the only newcomers all with Junior A pedigrees from B.C., Ontario and Manitoba respectively.

Both Friday's game between SFU and VIU and Saturday's match-up between the Mariners and TWU are scheduled for 7:00 PM puck drops and will be broadcast live on Hockey TV.