BURNABY, BC — Putting up a combined eight points, the line of Brendan Lamont, Mac Colasimone, and Jaret Babych led the SFU Men’s Hockey Team to a 5-1 victory over the Vancouver Island Mariners in the first home game of 2018.

The trio have been on fire since being put together on a line after the Christmas Break.

“I don’t know what that’s all about,” said Lamont. “Even from the first practice, we’re just clicking and then from the first game, we just had something — I don’t know what it is, but we just clicked.”

“Those guys understand what it takes to win,” said head coach Mark Coletta.

SFU came out of the gate with some much needed energy, dominating the first period, outshooting VIU 14-8 and putting up two goals.

Lamont put in the first goal from Mak Barden and Babych nearly five minutes in. Colasimone was rewarded for his gritty work around the net, when he tapped in a sneaky goal up close with less than a minute left in the period.

Just 14 seconds into the second, Garrett Dunlop scored for VIU to cut the lead down the deficit to one-goal.

However, SFU answered back with three more goals in the second frame to go into the intermission with a 5-1 lead.

“The bounceback was good, that was just a sign of what our team is made of, of what they’re coming with the next two months,” said Coletta.

Braxton Bilous fired one in from the blue line 3:49 in, with assists going to Colasimone and Lamont. Brandon Tidy put one in on the power play with 2:44 left in the frame, with help from Tyler Basham and Barden. Lamont scored his second of the night late in the frame, with just 13 seconds left. Colasimone and Babych assisted on the play.

SFU continued to dominate the shot clock, putting up 19 shots in the second.

Neither team scored in the third period.

SFU finished with 44 shots and went one-for-three on the power play. Lyndon Stanwood made 23 saves on 24 shots (.958 SV%).

Since the Christmas break, SFU has won three straight to put them at 9-5-0 and give them some distance from the fourth-placed Vancouver Island.

This week, SFU will look to keep the streak rolling in some tough matchups. Thursday, SFU takes on Trinity Western at the Langley Events Centre, looking to inch closer to the Spartans’ second place spot. Friday, the Clan return home to face UVic.

For Friday’s home game at the Bill Copeland Sports Centre, tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for students and seniors, and free for children under 6 or for SFU students with valid ID. The games will also be streamed live on HockeyTV. Puck drop is at 7 pm for both games.

Three Stars:
1st Star: SFU #9 Mac Colasimone (1G, 2A, GWG)
2nd Star: SFU #17 Spencer Unger (2G, 1A)
3rd Star: SFU #24 Jaret Babych (0G, 2A)