Selkirk College wrapped up the first month of the 2012/13 B.C. Intercollegiate Hockey League season the same way they started it, defeating the defending league champions from the University of Victoria. But unlike their season opener four weeks ago, which the Saints won in by hard-fought 4-3 scoreline, Saturday’s rematch at the Castlegar Recreation Complex was a one-sided offensive display that ended in a 10-2 victory for the hosts.
With the win, the Saints moved to 6-0-0 on the regular season and maintained their hold on first place in the BCIHL. Selkirk has now outscored their opponents by a margin of 35-4 in four home games 44-11 overall.
Victoria opened and closed the scoring on Saturday night, but the Saints did all the damage in between. Down 1-0 in the first period following a strange goal off a Vikes dump-in, Selkirk replied with markers from Connor McLaughlin and Cody Fidgett to take the lead before intermission.
The middle frame began with a goal off the stick of Logan Proulx, who along with linemates Jordan Wood and Jackson Garrett combined for six points in the period. Thomas Hardy and McLaughlin, with his second, also beat Vikes starter Nick Babich in the second.
And the third period was dominated by the line of McLaughlin, Scott Swiston and Mason Spear, who each scored during a three-goal rally that extended the Saints lead to eight. Wood and Brad Robinson exchanged late goals to cap the scoring.
Stephen Wolff received the start for Selkirk and turned aside 21 shots for his second win in as many appearances. Babich was replaced late in the second period by Sunny Gill, who allowed four goals on 15 shots.
“We came out slow tonight and about halfway through the first period it looked like we were determined to get away from what had made us successful through the first three weeks of the season,” says Saints head coach Jeff Dubois. “But to the credit of our group the feet started moving and the work habits for the remainder of the game were excellent. We’ve been putting up some big numbers the last few times out and that’s been the result of hard-working, honest and unselfish hockey. When we stick to those habits the results have been very good.”
Connor McLaughlin led the way offensively for the Saints with a hat trick and two assists, while his line accounted for a dozen points with Mason Spear (four points) and Scott Swiston (three) also in on the action.
The Saints will now prepare for a tough weekend on the road that includes a visit to Thompson Rivers University in Kamloops on Friday night and Simon Fraser University in Vancouver on Saturday. Both games can be viewed online at www.fasthockey.com.
