Photo Credit: Damon James
Three goals from second year forward Mitch Crisanti in the second period led the SFU Men’s Hockey Team to a decisive 10-1 win over the Eastern Washington University Eagles, and their first home victory.
“I just got lucky on the first one, it kind of slipped by him, and then I just felt good after that and they just seemed to go in,” explained Crisanti.
“We’ve been pushing for Mitch to be a goal scorer, that’s what he is — he was that in junior — he’s a big kind of skating, free-wheeling kind of player,” said head coach Mark Coletta.
Though Crisanti led the charge, seven players potted goals and 14 players were credited with points — it was an all-around team effort.
“We were waiting for a breakout performance like that,” said Coletta. “The boys in the first period period really played well, there was a lot of jump, a lot of energy, I thought that was better than the 10 goals.”
Scott Patterson opened the scoring a little over five minutes into the game. With effective special teams play — SFU would score twice on the power play and net a shorthanded goal from Brandon Tidy — the Clan were up 5-0 by the end of the first period.
Eastern Washington, who were missing the services of two-time BCIHL scoring leader Beau Walker, came out of the second period with some jump, and put one on the board early in the second period, but Crisanti’s three and Darnel St Pierre’s tally kept SFU firmly in control.
From a scoring perspective, the third period was lighter, with Jesse Mysiorek supplying the lone goal to close it out 10-1.
However, as the game went on, tempers flared between the two teams. 110 penalty minutes were doled out and five game misconducts were handed out between the teams, after a series of fights.
“Those guys are just like us — they’ve got a lot of pride,” said Crisanti. “I’ve been in their shoes before, it’s tough, [but] the physicality went both ways. Both teams were getting a little bit chippy there. It’s just the way it goes sometimes.”
Jaret Babych, Mathew Berry-Lamontagna, and Mak Barden were also credited with goals. Tyler Basham left the game after the first period with a shoulder injury. Jordan Liem made 16 saves on 17 shots (.941 SV%). SFU had 38 shots.
“We know we can score goals now. We’ve won a few tight games where we just hadn’t buried on a lot of chances, and tonight, everyone was feeling it a bit,” said Crisanti.
SFU play the last game of a three game homestand this Saturday against the University of Victoria Vikes. The Vikes currently sit in first place, one point ahead of SFU, Trinity Western, and Selkirk College, but have played two more games.
The night will feature our annual “Hockeyween,” with booths from local businesses around the arena for kids to visit for trick or treating during the intermission. Fans in costume get free admission. SFU students get in free with student ID. Puck drop is at 7 pm. The game will also be streamed live on FASTHockey.
Three Stars:
1st Star: SFU #89 Mitch Crisanti (3G, 0A)
2nd Star: SFU #81 Scott Patterson (1G, 3A)
3rd Star: SFU #8 Mathew Berry-Lamontagna (1G, 2A)
AROUND THE BCIHL: Selkirk College claimed four points in a back-to-back against UVic in Victoria. Friday night, UVic had come back from a 4-1 deficit to tie the game at four and take it to the shootout. However, Dallas Calvin scored the lone shootout goal and won it for Selkirk, leaving UVic with only one point. Saturday, Selkirk won handily 4-1… Before facing SFU, Eastern Washington fell 5-1 to Trinity Western Friday night. Jarrett Fontaine scored twice for TWU, while Paxton Bell had EWU’s lone goal… UVic sits in first place with seven points (3-2-1), while SFU and Trinity Western sit tied for second with six points (3-1-0), but have played two less games. Selkirk College also has six points, but are in fourth as they have played one more game. Eastern Washington sits in last with zero points.
