Selkirk and TRU set to faceoff in weekend match-up of unbeaten teams

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The Selkirk College Saints Men’s Hockey program will face a stiff challenge this weekend to keep their perfect regular season record intact when the Thompson Rivers University WolfPack visit the Castlegar Recreation Complex for a pair of games on Friday and Saturday nights. Both match-ups are set for a 7:30 PM faceoff.

The Saints have picked up wins in their first three games to begin the 2011/12 B.C. Intercollegiate Hockey League regular season, most recently topping Trinity Western University by a 6-1 score in their home opener on October 12th. The WolfPack, meanwhile, boast a 2-0 record after a road victory at TWU and a home win over the University of Victoria.

"Thompson Rivers is traditionally one of the top teams in the BCIHL and all signs point to this year’s squad meeting that high standard," says Saints head coach Jeff Dubois.

"We’re approaching this weekend as a very tough test to see where we’re at as a team at this point in the season. TRU always comes out hard and looks to dictate the physical tempo of the game, and I expect our group to be ready for that."

Scoring has thus far come in bunches for Selkirk early in the year, with 15 goals for through three games. Saints forwards Logan Proulx, Thomas Hardy and Jordan Wood all sit in the Top 10 in BCIHL scoring while wingers Cody Fidgett and Beau Taylor sit just outside that group.

The WolfPack possess a potent offence of their own led by former KIJHL 95-point man Colten DeFrias. The rookie winger leads all league goal scorers with four through two games.

TRU ‘s roster also includes a number of players familiar to hockey fans in the West Kootenays, including a trio of former Castlegar Rebels in forward Anthony Delong and blueliners Cody Rose and Ben Bula.

Also featuring on defence for the WolfPack is team captain and former Trail Smoke Eater Curtis Tonello.

Tickets for Friday and Saturday’s games will be available at the door for $8 (Adults) and $5 (Selkirk students & staff, seniors, children 6 & older). Season passes are also still available at special rates on game nights.

For more information on Saints single game tickets and passes, visit GoSaints.ca.

SAINTS NOTES: Forward Ben Starbuck has been added to the Saints roster and may factor into the team’s line-up at some point this weekend. The Kaslo, B.C. native is a veteran of three collegiate seasons with the University of Alberta-Augustana, which competes in the Alberta Colleges Athletics Conference.

Starbuck has a 20-goal season in the ACAC on his resume and totalled 30 goals and 45 points over 62 regular games with the Vikings, plus three points in six postseason appearances.