Dillon backstops Vikes to win in penalty-filled home opener for SFU

Simon Fraser University dropped their home opener 5-1 in a penalty-filled affair to the University of Victoria Vikes.

“The first two periods, it was tough to get a flow going five-on-five, I think we play our best hockey five-on-five, especially on our ice surface. We just didn’t get into that flow,” said head coach Mark Coletta.

“Credit to UVic, they played a perfect road game after last night’s performance. They got the bounces and capitalized on everything they got.”

In the first period alone, 11 penalties were doled out to the two teams. SFU failed to convert on an early 5-on-3 man advantage, and were punished with a boarding penalty to Jaret Babych just 18 seconds after both man advantages ended. 9:36 into the game, and just 12 seconds into the power play, Liam Shaw opened the scoring for UVic.

In the second period, Brandon Volpe collected a turnover right in front of the net, and put it in on the power play to put the Vikes up 2-0. Liam Shaw put his second power play marker of the night midway through the second frame to take a 3-0 lead.

SFU continued the streak of power play goals to put their first on the board with 4:02 left in the period, as Mathew Berry-Lamontagna shot a bomb from the point on the 5-on-3 man advantage. Babych and Darnel St Pierre collected assists on the play.

The Clan controlled possession for much of the third period, but couldn’t put any in the back of the net. Brandon Tidy appeared to score midway through the frame, knocking in a loose puck, but the goal was waved off and SFU received a penalty.

A goal by Dylan Grant with 5:16 left gave UVic a three-goal lead and dampened SFU’s chances for a comeback. Just 1:11 later, another UVic goal sealed the 5-1 win.

Throughout the night, the Clan struggled to score on the power play, going 1-for-13.

“I think sometimes, we’ve got to get a little grittier, more meat and potatoes, go back to the basics with your standard pump shots from the point with net traffic [power play],” said Coletta. “We were too much on the perimeter, looking for that perfect goal.”

In the end, 32 penalties were called.

Goaltender Lyndon Stanwood made 17 saves on 22 shots (.773 SV%). UVic’s Alec Dillon was a rock in net, putting 31 saves on 32 shots (.969 SV%).

SFU will look to rebound in back-to-back games Thursday and Friday. The Clan play Trinity Western in Langley and then return home to face Eastern Washington on Saturday.

Both games will be streamed live on HockeyTV. Puck drop is at 7 pm for both.

Three Stars:

1st Star: UVic #30 Alec Dillon (31 Saves, .969 SV%)
2nd Star: UVic #12 Liam Shaw (2G, 1A)
3rd Star: SFU #17 Brendan Lamont (0G, 0A)