Selkirk College opens playoffs with shutout win over University of Victoria

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Selkirk College opened their 2013 postseason with a win on Friday night, topping the defending B.C. Intercollegiate Hockey League champions from the University of Victoria by a 3-0 score at the Castlegar Recreation Complex.

With the victory the Saints take a 1-0 lead in the best-of-three first round series and will look to eliminate the Vikes and move on the league championships with another win on Saturday night.

Mason Spear opened the scoring for the hosts just under five minutes in to the first period when a centering pass from linemate Cody Fidgett deflected off his skate and past UVic starter Sunny Gill.

And that 1-0 margin stayed intact for most of the night, as Gill turned aside numerous Saints scoring opportunities and Selkirk held their visitors to only a handful of shots on goal through two periods.

Selkirk finally extended their lead with 9:08 remaining in the third when Logan Proulx banged home the rebound from a Kam Crawford point shot on a Saints power-play. Minutes later, Fidgett iced the game with his team's third goal, taking a pass from defenceman Dylan Smith and deking around Gill for his second point of the night.

"We had some trouble finishing plays tonight but overall it was a good start to our playoffs against a very hard-working team," says Saints head coach Jeff Dubois. "UVic has nine players back from the group that won a league championship last season, so there's a lot of playoff experience on that bench. We did a great job limiting their shots and scoring opportunities, and when you play tight defensively it allows some time to get the offence clicking."

The Saints held a 27-12 edge in shots on goals through two periods and limited the Vikes to just one shot on goal in the third.

Alex Sirard picked up the shut out in his BCIHL playoff debut with 13 saves, while Sunny Gill took the loss after allowing three goals on 37 shots.

Saturday's game is set for a 7:30 PM faceoff. Should the Vikes win, a third and deciding game would take place on Sunday at 6:00 PM.

SAINTS NOTES: In the BCIHL's other first round series, second-ranked SFU took a 1-0 lead over third-seeded Thompson Rivers University with a 6-1 home ice win. Game 2 in the series is set for Saturday night in Kamloops.