Five second period goals lift VIU to convincing home win over over Saints

Vancouver Island University extended their early season win streak to three games, exploding for five goals in the second period en route to topping Selkirk College at home by an 8-3 score on Saturday night.

The Saints opened the scoring on an Edward Lindsey power-play goal just 2:12 into regulation, but the lead wouldn't last long as Michael Olson-Eyre evened the scored later in the first period.

VIU rookie forward Dylan McCann and Saints blueliner Cole Arcuri exchanged goals just 21 seconds apart in the early goings of the second, and the Mariners took over the game from there. Alex Milligan scored his first of three on the night on the man-advantage with 8:55 remaining in the frame and Josh Cook added a second tally moments later as Selkirk struggled to kill a Josh Shatford major penalty for kneeing.

Gage Colpron scored VIU's third power-play goal of the period on a separate infraction with 3:59 on the clock and Milligan gave the hosts a 6-2 lead before intermission. Milligan, with his hat trick marker, and McCann extended the lead to six goals in the third before the Saints replied with a late power-play goal from Josh Slanina.

The Mariners slammed 57 shots in the direction of Selkirk College netminder Tallon Kramer, while Matt Huber picked up his first BCIHL victory with 33 saves for VIU.

With the win, VIU moved into top spot in the league standings with a 3-1-1 record, one point ahead of idle Trinity Western. Selkirk sits third with three points from four games.

The Saints will look to rebound from a three-game losing skid when they travel to the Lower Mainland next weekend for games with TWU and Simon Fraser, while VIU will host Victoria in their lone game of the weekend on Saturday night.