Selkirk College honours past with another successful Saints Alumni weekend

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Selkirk College reflected on the past as the team pushed towards a future fourth straight B.C. Intercollegiate Hockey League title this past weekend at the Castlegar & District Recreation Complex.

The fourth annual alumni weekend took place with more than 20 former players coming together to check out the current team in action and resume bonds at a number of special events.

The current edition of the Saints scored a win for the program’s pioneers on Friday night with a 2-1 victory over the University of Victoria Vikes.

“I’m impressed with the athletic, social and caring personalities that are displayed by the Saints players,” said Larry Keraiff, who played for the Selkirk College team between 1972 and 1975. "I am so very proud to be a Saints alumnus because of the way they are conducting themselves in all the facets that go into being a Saint.”

In the Friday night contest, Saints alumni gathered at centre ice for a pre-game ceremony and official puck drop. The former players then made their way to the stands where they watched this year’s team engage in a tight checking battle with the Vikes that featured solid goaltending from Selkirk College starter Brett Huber.

After a scoreless first period, Dallas Calvin gave the home side a 1-0 lead seven minutes into the middle frame.

Early in the third period, Ryan Edwards increased the lead to 2-0. Vikes forward Bo Sigurdson finally solved Huber with just under two minutes remaining in the game to boost excitement, but the Saints held on for the 2-1 win.

Other highlights of the weekend included some of the alumni visiting the dressing room to deliver a pre-game speech and the first ever four-on-four tournament that saw past players join current players in a fun Saturday of hockey at the old Pioneer Arena in Castlegar.

"It is such a pleasure to come back and reminisce about the wonderful experience we had as Saints in the 1970s,” said Barry Watson, who played for the college in the 1972-1973 season. “To be able to share those memories with the current Saints and see how the program has grown, it was just an awesome weekend.”

Friday night’s victory kept the Saints within striking distance of first place in league standings, two points behind red hot Simon Fraser University.

Selkirk College will take on the Eastern Washington University Eagles this Saturday night at the Castlegar & District Recreation Complex. The puck drops on that game at 7 p.m.