UVic gains four hard-earned points from weekend visit to Selkirk College

The University of Victoria Vikes kept pace with their fellow B.C. Intercollegiate Hockey League contenders on the weekend, earning four points from a two-game visit to Castlegar with a pair of wins over the Selkirk College Saints.

On Friday, the Vikes were nearly stimied by Saints netminder Spenser Wong, who faced 46 shots in a 3-2 victory for the road side. Adam Courtnall netted a pair of goals for Victoria, including the game winner with 9:15 remaining in the third period. Dennis Pavlina also helped key the UVic offence, scoring once himself while assisting on both of Courtnall's tallies.

Burhan Pourmokthari and Caleb Georgetti replied with goals for Selkirk College, with Scott Jago setting both tallies.

Wong's 43 saves earned him the first star nod, while Victoria netminder Simon Barer was named the game's second star following a 34-save effort. Jago's two-point night was recognized with a third star pick.

On Saturday, the Vikes power-play awoke with three crucial goals in a 4-1 win.

Back-to-back man-advantage markers from Philip Barter and Mark Prest in the span of 50 seconds in the second period put Victoria ahead, while Prest scored again minutes later.

Caleb Georgetti scored his second goal in as many games to bring the Saints within a pair before intermission, but Dennis Pavlina netted an insurance marker in the third period to put the game out of reach.

Tim Manuel picked up the win, turning aside 33 of 34 shots, while Spenser Wong posted another 40+ save effort in the loss. The duo of Barter and Matt Bell, former Port Moody Black Panthers teammates, combined for a goal and six points in the victory.

With the win, the Vikes improved their record to 9-4-1 and moved into a tie with Okanagan College for third in the BCIHL standings. The setback left Selkirk at 1-15-0 on the season and two points behind the University of the Fraser Valley for sixth overall.