BURNABY – SFU is back to game action tomorrow for the first time in three weeks against the Okanagan Lakers. 

While there may have been no game action over the past few weeks, the team has not slowed down its training schedule.

“This Okanagan team is coming in here looking to take the top team in the league down,” coach Mark Coletta said to his group on Thursday, “you set the standard.”

The Lakers are coming off two close losses at home to the UVic Vikes, dropping both games 3-1 and 3-2, and dropping to the bottom of the BCIHL standings (1-5-0; 2pts). The team amassed 70 penalty minutes in those matches.

SFU’s last two matchups also came against the UVic Vikes back on Jan. 14th and 15th, winning both of their games 3-1 and 5-3 respectively.

All signs point to goaltender Michael Lenko starting in net, with Kayla Munro dressing for her second game with SFU and first at home.

Forwards Garrett Hilton (14), Logan Bromhead (12), Mathieu Jallabert (11), and Kyle Bergh (10) round out four of the top five spots in the BCIHL scoring race, and will look to add to their totals on Saturday night.

This game marks SFU’s second-last home game of the regular season before the BCIHL Championship Weekend (March 4-6). SFU’s Season Finale and Seniors Night will be held on Feb. 21st at 4pm at Bill Copeland Sports Centre. 

A note about the standings…

For the first time this season, SFU faces potential standings implications this weekend. 

At 8-0-0 (16pts), SFU sits comfortably at the top of the BCIHL table, having now defeated every team in the league multiple times (OKL x 2, VIC x 3, VIU x 3). The team will finish at least top 2, meaning that they’re guaranteed at least two playoff games of a possible three.

The only team now that can catch SFU? The VIU Mariners (2nd; 4-3-0; 8 pts). 

A win by SFU tomorrow night or a loss by VIU tonight (7:00pm vs. VIC) guarantees SFU the top spot in the league going into the BCIHL Championship Weekend on March 4th to 6th, and will give the club home-ice advantage for Quarter-Final 1.