Offensive outburst in win keeps postseason hopes alive for Victoria

Needing a victory to keep their slim hopes of a playoff berth alive, the University of Victoria exploded for nine goals in a critical 9-4 victory over Selkirk College at the Ian Stewart Complex.

Callum Volpe opened the scoring during a back and forth first period, with Selkirk's Tayden Woods replying with an equalizer just 34 seconds later. But Victoria took control from there, as Carter Huber and Stratton Pickett extended their lead to two goals before intermission.

The floodgates opened for the Vikes in the back half of the second period, as Caleb Griffin scored on the power-play with 8:55 remaining before Kenny Britton and Jackson Glimpel piled on to make it a 5-1 game after 40 minutes.

And Victoria wasn't done there, as Keegan Durrance scored shorthanded early in the third and Branden Voss and Britton made it nine goals for the Vikes with 13 minutes remaining. Selkirk scored a pair of late goals but the game had already long been decided.

Niall Murphy was busy in picking up the win, stopping 44 shots for Victoria, while Selkirk starter Jared Breitkreuz was replaced by Tallon Kramer following the first period. Breitkreuz allowed three goals in 17 shots and kramer made 13 saves on 19 shots.

With the win, the Vikes still have hope of catching Selkirk for the league's fourth and final playoff berth. They will need the Saints to lose in regulation to VIU on Saturday and then win their two remaining games against the Mariners and SFU.