Midseason Report: Defending champs in playoff battle at midway point

The University of Victoria proved decisively last season that a lack of regular season success doesn't mean you can't come through when it counts. After posting a 9-14-0-1 record good for fourth place in 2016/17, the Vikes upset top-seeded Simon Fraser and second-ranked Trinity Western to capture their first B.C. Intercollegiate Hockey League championship since 2012.

But if UVic is to attempt an encore of last season's unexpected run they'll first need to bare down and come through with a strong second half in order to qualify for the 2018 postseason.

The Vikes' record currently sits at 2-9-0-1 with five points through 12 games, putting the squad seven points behind SFU and Vancouver Island University for the BCIHL's fourth and final playoff position.

So how did we get here?

For starters the team lost a number of key players following their triumph in March, including leading scorer Shawn Mueller, five-year forward Luciano Somerville and NCAA transfer Noah Henry on the blueline.

But the biggest departure came early in the regular season when former Montreal Canadiens forward Patrick Holland decided to end his playing career. Victoria's offence has certainly struggled as a result, with the team averaging a league-worst 2.33 goals scored per game.

The bright spots up front have included third-year forward Jack Palmer, who with 15 points has hit the scoresheet on more than half of his team's 28 goals. Linemates Brandon Volpe and Liam Shaw have also maintained close to a point-per-game pace, as the trio have combined for 12 goals and 36 points between them.

The Vikes have struggled to hit the back of the net beyond their top line, however, as no other skater has recorded more than six points. Rookie Brett Lervold and second-year Landon Matechuk have shown flashes of offensive potential, but ultimately the squad will need consistent contributions from up and down the line-up to make up the current gap on VIU and SFU.

On the back-end there's no question that Victoria has missed the 25-minutes a night filled so capably down the stretch last season from Henry, who played 87 games over three seasons at Union College and captured an NCAA Frozen Four championship in 2014.

2017 BCIHL Defenceman of the Year Kyle Bird has had a tough time replicating his strong rookie numbers on a team with less offensive punch, as he has six points to date following a 23-point rookie campaign. Overall, the team's blueline has contributed just four goals through 12 regular season contests.

In goal, Vikes playoff hero Michael Fredrick has been joined by former LA Kings draft pick Alec Dillon, but the pair have yet to find their groove playing behind a team that has allowed an average of more than 40 shots against per game.

Dillon, who missed a full season following hip surgery, has shown flashes of the ability that made him a member of the USHL All-Rookie Team in 2015, including a first star effort in a 31-save win over SFU and a 41-save effort in a road win over Eastern Washington.

The good news for Victoria is that they have nine players who suited up in last year's BCIHL Finals who know full well the team's ability to bounce back and get results when it counts. Combine that experience with the talent and pedigree of players like Palmer, Bird and Dillon and the Vikes will likely be a tough out in big games down the stretch.

UVic plays its first game of 2018 on January 5th when Simon Fraser University visits the Ian Stewart Complex.

MIDSEASON AT A GLANCE - UVIC

Record: 2-9-0-1 (5th place)
Goals For: 28 (5th)
Goals Against: 60 (6th)
Power Play: 16.67% (2nd)
Penalty Kill: 85.29% (3rd)

Goals Leader: Brandon Volpe (7)
Assists Leader: Jack Palmer (13)
Points Leader: Jack Palmer (15)
PIM Leader: Henry Hart (45)