Weekend Preview: Saints look to stay undefeated, EWU in search of first win

Vancouver Island University will look to build on the momentum gained from last Friday's road win over Trinity Western when they head east to face Eastern Washington on Friday and Selkirk College on Saturday.

The Mariners took two points from their first visit to the Langley Events Centre, which has traditionally been a tricky road venue for visitors.

Friday's game in Cheney, WA will be a prime opportunity for the Eagles to grab their first win of the season following a home loss to SFU and back-to-back defeats to Selkirk.

The Saints, meanwhile, will be well-rested when VIU pays a visit on Saturday. It will be a homecoming for a trio of Mariners players as forwards Tyler Kerner and Alex Milligan plus defenceman Jordan Rauser all called Castlegar home last season. Selkirk is the BCIHL's only unbeaten team, entering weekend action with a 3-0 record.

In Langley, the Spartans will look to bounce back from last weekend's loss to VIU when the University of Victoria visits for the first time since claiming the 2017 BCIHL Championship at the LEC in March.

UVic opened the season with a home loss before a bye last weekend, so they'll be seeing just their second game of action on Friday. They'll then wrap their two-game Lower Mainland road swing in Burnaby on Saturday night against Simon Fraser.

Patrick Holland and Jack Palmer form two-thirds of the Vikes' top line this season following the departure of captain Shawn Mueller, and the pair combined for five points in the Vikes' opening night loss.

Likely to see his first action for UVic on this weekend's road trip is goaltender Alec Dillon, a former LA Kings draft pick who was playing for the WHL's Edmonton Oil Kings when he sustained a serious injury last season.

Saturday marks a belated home opener for the Clan following the cancellation of last weekend's game against VIU. Simon Fraser is 1-1 and led by captain and leading scorer Brandon Tidy, who picked up two goals and four points on the team's season-opening road trip through Castlegar and Cheney.

WEEKEND BCIHL SCHEDULE:

Friday, October 20th

Vancouver Island University at Eastern Washington University - 7:00 PM, EWU Recreation Complex

University of Victoria at Trinity Western University - 7:00 PM, Langley Events Centre

Saturday, October 21st

Vancouver Island University at Selkirk College - 7:00 PM, Castlegar Recreation Complex

University of Victoria at Simon Fraser University - 7:00 PM, Bill Copeland Sports Centre

ALL BCIHL GAMES ARE BROADCAST LIVE ON HOCKEYTV.