Photo Credit: Damon James

Assistant coach Tom Spencer was pleased with the effort as the SFU Men’s Hockey Team took home a regulation win in a tough series of back-to-back games last weekend against the Selkirk College Saints in Castlegar.

“Friday was a big game and the guys came to play. They knew we needed to get at least one win in Castlegar and the job got done. It’s not an easy place to play,” he explained.

But the team still has a challenge ahead of them with two games Thursday and Saturday against Trinity Western, the team right behind them in the standings.

“We identified those as the four biggest games of the season coming back in, making sure we stay ahead of Selkirk, and we got Trinity nipping at our heels, they’re a good team,” Spencer said. “[It’s] going to be a little unorthodox playing on a Thursday night, so we need to be prepared. Our expectation is that we’re to play our game fast, strong with the puck.”

Friday’s 5-3 win didn’t come without a price though. Despite the fact that the team was probably its healthiest since the beginning of the season after the long layoff, three players left the game with an injury.

Brandon Tidy is day-to-day, while Dustin Cave suffered an upper body injury. Tyler Basham suffered a shoulder injury.

Tidy has an “outside chance” of playing against Trinity Western, while both Basham and Cave are unlikely.

Defenceman Nick Coltura, who hasn’t played since November 13, has been making progress.

“We’re optimistic, he skated at practice [yesterday], so we’re optimistic, we’re just waiting on results from the doctor, so he could be a gametime decision,” said Spencer.

SFU will split goaltending duties, with Jordan Liem receiving the start Thursday, and Lyndon Stanwood getting the Saturday home game.

Forward Pavlo Zerebecky (hip) will not slot into the lineup this weekend due to injury, and is out week-to-week.