Weekend Preview: Eagles set to hit the Vancouver Island to tackle UVic, VIU

Eastern Washington University will visit Victoria and Nanaimo for their final road games this weekend, looking to build some late season momentum as their B.C. Intercollegiate Hockey League campaign winds down.

On Friday, the Eagles will battle a University of Victoria squad fresh off a big 6-2 victory over second place Selkirk College. EWU have faced the Vikes four times this season, picking up three points in a two-game home series in Cheney while dropping a pair of close decisions on the road.

The last time the teams met, Beau Walker scored four goals in a losing cause as the Vikes withstood a late Eastern rally to hold on to a 6-4 decision at the Ian Stewart Complex. Walker and linemate Brett Mathews combined for eight points in that game.

Victoria matched their season best last Friday with six goals against the Saints, as Landen Matechuk scored twice and Jack Palmer picked up a goal and two assists. Palmer now has points in 11 of his last 12 games, includingsix points in three February contests.

On Saturday, Eastern will make the short trip north to face a Mariners squad that has been their kryptonite thus far in their inaugural season. The Eagles have visited VIU twice since a high-scoring 6-5 defeat in Cheney in October, and have had trouble executing offensively in 2-0 and 4-1 road losses.

The Mariners possess a strong Rookie of the Year candidate in Garrett Dunlop, who has 11 goals and 22 points through 20 regular season games. The Nanaimo product was held off the scoresheet in last weekend's home loss to Selkirk College but has seven multi-point games under his belt so far this year.

VIU netminder Brett Clark picked up his first BCIHL shutout the last time the teams met, turning aside 16 shots in a 2-0 win.

Friday night's game in Victoria is set for a 7:30 PM faceoff, while the Eagles and Mariners will face off at 11:30 AM on Saturday in Lake Cowichan.