BURNABY, BC — The SFU Men’s Hockey Team play the second game of a three game homestand to close out the first half of the season this Friday against Vancouver Island University.
SFU have won five out of their last six games.
Playing short a number of core players last weekend, SFU gutted their way to split the week’s series. Against Trinity Western last Thursday, SFU dropped a tough 4-3 contest on the road, despite heading into the third period with a 3-2 lead. On Saturday, SFU put up a strong bounceback effort against the league leaders, Selkirk College, with Mathew Berry-Lamontagna scoring the overtime winner with 31 seconds left to hand the Saints their second loss of the season.
Special teams have been a strength for SFU over the two previous games, as SFU managed four power play goals against the Spartans and the Saints, and have allowed only one power play goal on 11 opportunities in that stretch, including against the Saints, who have scored 1.67 power plays per game.
“Our penalty kill’s been great lately,” said Berry-Lamontagna. “We kind of struggled with our special teams to start the year, and made a couple of adjustments.”
Daniell Lange and Berry-Lamontagna both put multi-point nights on the weekend. Lyndon Stanwood earned the first star Saturday night as the team’s most important penalty-killer, making 31 saves on 33 shots (.939 SV%).
On Friday, SFU faces a VIU team they beat 8-1 two weekends before, in the first matchup between the two teams.
“We expect a big game. Last [game], we went over there and beat them in their own rink. I think they’re going to come back and play hard,” said head coach Mark Coletta. “Obviously, they’re a big, strong and pretty powerful team, they beat UVic both games this weekend, so they’re definitely going to be a tough opponent for us. I think we have to make the puck do the work and use our speed.”
In their first year in the league, Vancouver Island has built a competitive team that currently occupies the fourth and final playoff spot. After falling to SFU, the Mariners put together back-to-back wins against UVic, outscoring them 12-6 in the two contests.
With a 4-5 record, a win against SFU would put them at .500.
VIU forward Gage Colpron, who put up two 80-plus point seasons in the VIJHL, was hot last weekend, putting up three goals and three assists over the stretch.
The Vancouver Island roster has scoring across the board, with 10 players putting up four or more points and all but four with ice time getting on the scoresheet.
SFU will likely face VIU’s Carson Schamerhorn in net. Schamerhorn has put up a respectable 3-3 record and put up back-to-back wins against UVic.
Last game against VIU, forwards Mac Colasimone and Mak Barden found some chemistry with each other, putting up a combined eight points. Despite the 8-1 victory, Stanwood still had to be sharp in net as he was beat only once on 30 shots (.967 SV%).
This game marks the second annual Underwear Toss Night to help support local charities in the Lower Mainland. Fans are encouraged to bring new and packaged underwear or socks to the game, or purchase some at the rink and when SFU scores their first goal of the game, everyone will toss them onto the ice. The underwear and socks will be collected and donated to the Surrey Urban Mission Society.
You can purchase underwear or socks to toss at the game at the Pacific Community Resources Society booth, with funds raised going to help those in need. Don’t have underwear or socks to donate? Bring new or gently used clothes to the game and we will have bins set up to collect them. The clothes will then be donated to Covenant House Vancouver.
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 game will also be streamed live on HockeyTV. Puck drop is at 7 pm.
