Photo Credit: Damon James

Despite holding the lead going into the third period, the SFU Men’s Hockey Team fell 5-2 in their home opener to the four time defending BCIHL Champions, the Selkirk College Saints.

Five unanswered goals by the Saints in the third — four of them on the power play — cost the Clan the chance to continue their perfect season.

“We had a 2-0 lead and we gave it away,” said head coach Mark Coletta. “I think the emotion level wasn’t where it had to be.

“You can’t give up penalties and expect to win this league.”

Jesse Mysiorek opened the scoring just 1:41 into the game. SFU controlled the pace of play for much of the first period, edging Selkirk 9-8 in shots.

After a scoreless second period, the Clan shored up that lead when Graham Smerek netted his first of the year, from Tyler Basham and Jaret Babych.

Exactly two minutes later, however, Selkirk, who were looking for their first victory after two consecutive losses to open the season, put their first on the scoreboard on a 5-on-3 power play. Less than a minute later, they tied up the game on the remainder of that second SFU penalty.

Troy Maclise scored the gamewinner for the Saints with 11:28 left in the game. Nathan Browne and Jack Mills, who had scored the first and second goals for the Saints, would add two more to make it 5-2.

“We’ve got to be better — everybody, players and coaches,” said Coletta. “We’ve got to be prepared like we were last week, when we went on the road. We were prepared, we had energy, we had jump, we had bite. We just have to bring that back Monday at practice right through to the game.”

Selkirk College outshot SFU 35-20. Goaltender Jordan Liem made 31 saves (.886 SV%).

The Clan will look to return to winning ways next Saturday at home against the Eastern Washington University Eagles. The Eagles are currently winless in three games played, including SFU’s 3-2 victory in the season opener.

This Saturday also marks our “My First Hockey Game” night, where an emphasis will be placed on introducing new Canadians and visitors to the game of hockey, with free handouts of hockey rules printed in various different languages. 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: SEL #75 Jack Mills (2G, 1A)
2nd Star: SEL #17 Nathan Browne (2G, 1A)
3rd Star: SFU #8 Jesse Mysiorek (1G, 0A)

AROUND THE BCIHL: University of Victoria beat Eastern Washington in back-to-back games in Cheney, WA, winning 4-2 Friday, and 8-4 Saturday. NHL alumnus Patrick Holland scored four goals Saturday night for UVic. Despite the losses, Eastern Washington outshot UVic 62-43 and 44-31… Friday night, Trinity Western beat Selkirk College at the Langley Events Centre 2-0. Spartan goaltender Silas Matthys put up 22 saves for the shutout… UVic now sits alone at the top of the BCIHL standings with a 3-1-0 record. SFU and Trinity Western sit tied in second with 2-1-0 records, but with a game in hand. Selkirk is in fourth with a 1-2-0 record, while Eastern Washington is in last with no wins in three games.