SFU Men’s Ice Hockey coach Mark Coletta summed up Saturday night’s game at the Bill Copeland Sports Centre perfectly: "It was probably one of the most disappointing nights I've had as an SFU hockey coach in the six years I've been here."
The SFU Clan fell 5-0 to the University of Victoria Vikes on Saturday, getting shutout for the first time this season. SFU was outshot 33-27 by the Vikes in the game.
The Vikes came into Saturday with a league-worst 1-11-1 record on the season, but were able to dominate a Clan team that had only one loss prior to Saturday.
UVIC received a 27-save shutout performance from Nick Babich while Shawn Mueller led the charge offensively, potting a goal and adding two assists en route to the 5-0 victory.
SFU Clan offensive juggernaut Nick Sandor saw a nine-game point streak, dating back to last season, come to an end on Saturday.
The UVIC Vikes offensive stars came through though, and it wasn’t just Shawn Mueller. Mitch Bell picked up three assists while his brother Mathew Bell had a goal and an assist.
"Those are the kind of results you are going to going to get when you don’t take a team seriously," Coletta said. "Our coaching staff definitely didn’t underestimate them, but the players did."
Andrew Parent made his fifth start of the season for the Clan, surrendering three goals on 21 shots before being pulled late in the second period. Graeme Gordon gave up two goals on 12 shots in relief.
The Vikes were without one of their top scorers in Brad Robinson, who was out with a broken wrist suffered in the team’s last game. Robinson liked what he saw from his team on Saturday though.
"We played real well. We dominated them in their barn. This win is huge. We are going into the Christmas break on a complete high."
The Vikes’ win on Saturday was only their second of the season, but they have managed to collect five points over their past four games. While they now head into their Christmas break, the Clan prepare for back-to-back games against Eastern Washington at the Bill Copeland Sports Centre this upcoming weekend.
Eastern Washington currently supports a 4-7-1 record on the season.
The back-to-back games on Saturday will close out the fall semester for the SFU Clan. The team is now 8-2-0 on the year.
"It's a bunch of little things and preparedness things that cost us the game tonight. Hopefully this is just a one game bump we can get over," Coletta said.
Friday will mark the second annual Five Hole For Food night, where free tickets will be given to anyone that comes with a non-perishable food item to donate.
Saturday will mark the third annual Teddy Bear Toss in support of both Burnaby and Surrey Christmas Bureaus. Fans can bring their own teddy bear or purchase one at the rink with 100% of the proceeds going towards the Christmas Bureau. On the first SFU goal fans will rain teddy bears down on the ice.
VICTORIA
SIMON FRASER
OKANAGAN
LOGAN LAKE
VANCOUVER ISLAN.
