Selkirk Saints capture 1st win, three points in weekend homestand vs. Vikes

The Selkirk College Saints welcomed the University of Victoria Vikes for a weekend doubleheader on November 7th and  8th. Looking for some revenge after two tough losses in Victoria, the much improved Selkirk squad was determined to halt their string of eight straight losses to start the season.

It seems nerves and apprehension got the best of the Saints for the first two periods of game one as UVIC dominated the play with three unanswered goals. The Vikes added another goal early in the third period and it seemed like the game was all but over. That is, until Bryon Baker ripped a shot past the Vikes netminder, Frederico Angel, starting one of the biggest comebacks in Saints history. Around 16 seconds later, Jay Stuart scored on the power play and suddenly the Saints were back in the game.

With 12 minutes to go, Adam Clark blasted a shot from the point that found the top corner, making the score 4-3 Vikes. At the 10-minute mark, Evan Gyurkovits completed the comeback with the Saints second power play goal of the period. UVIC’s only answer to the sudden flurry was to take more penalties and Cam Humphrey cashed in for the third man advantage tally making the score 5-4 Saints.

Joey Underwood added an empty net goal that proved to be the winner, giving the Saints their first win of the season with a final score of 6-5. The line of Humphrey (4), Stuart (3) and Baker (2) combined for a total of nine points. Other players earning assists include Braeden Mace, Gyurkovits and Underwood.

The momentum continued to the start of game two on Sunday as the Saints came out flying. With three goals in the first (Baker, Gyurkovits, Stuart) and three more in the second (Mat Duchesne, Humphrey, Colton Nordquist) it seemed Selkirk was on their way to a second straight win.

But this time it was the Vikes turn to make the comeback. With the Saints leading 6-2 in the third, untimely penalties proved very costly. The Vikes reeled off five straight goals, three with the man advantage and suddenly the Saints were down a goal.

However, with two minutes left, Cam Humphrey scored his second of the game with a blast from the left side to even things up. The game would end in a 7-7 tie. Assists for the Saints went to Stuart (2), Nazaroff (2), Humphrey (2), Duchesne, Baker, Andrew Morton, Adam Makaroff, Underwood and Russell McLean.

The Saints completed the weekend earning three out of a possible four points, their best set of games to date.

They are now preparing for road trips to Kelowna and Kamloops to face Okanagan College and Thompson Rivers University respectively.

Coach Darrin Kissock said it was the turn-around weekend the Saints were waiting for.

“We are still a little rough around the edges, but things are definitely going in the right direction.”

Kissock said the team getting into games and winning games has breathed new life to the organization and staying out of the penalty box is key for the Saints. The team will also be focusing on their power play. The Saints are up against some stiff competition against two teams they have not faced this year when they travel to Kelowna to face Okanagan College and Kamloops to face Thompson Rivers University in the coming weeks.

“We are expecting tough weekends, but the bottom line is we’re getting better,” Kissock adds.