The Selkirk College Men's Hockey program will open defence of their 2012/13 B.C. Intercollegiate Hockey League championship on Friday night when they host Eastern Washington University in their league opener at the Castlegar Recreation Complex (7:30 PM).
Prior to puck drop, the team will raise last season's championship banner to the rafters in a pre-game ceremony.
The Saints will have a tough challenge on their hands if they hope to match the accomplishments of last season's team, who set new BCIHL records for wins and points in a season and strung together 13 consecutive victories to open the year.
But they do return most of their key players from a year ago, including top forwards Logan Proulx, Scott Swiston, Thomas Hardy, Cody Fidgett and Connor McLaughlin.
Selkirk wrapped its 8-game preseason schedule with a pair of decisive wins over Trinity Western University, outscoring the Spartans by a 9-1 margin last weekend. On Saturday, the Saints outshot their league rivals by a 52-23 margin in a 5-1 victory and looked to be in midseason form.
"We had a long training camp and preseason again this year, but the performances — especially this last weekend against TWU — looked much like they did when we were at our best last season," says Saints head coach Jeff Dubois. "My feeling is that our group isn't going to take past success for granted. We're fully motivated to pick up where we left off and be a top team in the BCIHL again."
Friday's opponent is able to boast more success against Selkirk last season than any other BCIHL club, as Eastern Washington handed the Saints two of their three regular season losses. But the Eagles did have a tough time in Castlegar, where they dropped all three decisions by a combined score of 15-8.
EWU is led offensively by former Trail Smoke Eaters and Spokane Braves forward Uriah Machuga, who picked up 30 points as a BCIHL rookie last season. They also added a big gun up front in Beau Walker, a point-per-game forward from the North American Hockey League’s Corpus Christi Ice Rays who began the 2012/13 season playing NCAA Division I hockey at Sacred Heart University.
"Eastern is a natural geographic rival and they always gives us a tough game," says Dubois. "They beat us twice in their rink last season and gave us two close games here."
Tickets for Friday's game will be available at the door for $8 (Adults) and $5 (Selkirk students & staff, seniors, children 6 & older).
SAINTS NOTES: 2013/14 Saints Men's Hockey season passes are now on sale at Selkirk's Castlegar campus (at the Recreation Counter in the gymnasium) and at upcoming home games.
Until October 11th, the team is offering a $10 discount off regular pass pricing. For more information on purchasing a Saints season pass, visit www.GoSaints.ca.
VICTORIA
SIMON FRASER
OKANAGAN
LOGAN LAKE
VANCOUVER ISLAN.
