The Selkirk College men's hockey program continued their hot start to the 2012/13 B.C. Intercollegiate Hockey League season on Saturday night in Victoria, downing the defending league champs from the University of Victoria by a 5-4 score in overtime.
In a game dominated by special teams and short on sustained 5-on-5 action, the Saints used three power-play goals and an offensive burst from the blueline to sweep their weekend series against a hard-working and determined Vikes squad.
Logan Proulx and Dylan Smith struck in the first period to help establish a 2-1 lead for the visitors, and a tremendous individual effort by winger Cody Fidgett in the second extended the Saints lead to two. But penalty trouble slowed down Selkirk for much of the middle frame and into the third, and the Vikes capitalized off the sticks of Matt Bell and Evan Warner.
A third period man-advantage marker from team captain Jordan Wood seemed to put the Saints ahead for good, but Victoria forward Dennis Pavlina earned the hosts a point and sent the game to overtime when he snuck a rebound past Selkirk netminder Stephen Wolff with under three minutes in regulation.
The Saints found the winner just 33 seconds in the extra frame, however, as defenceman Lucas Hildebrand sent a point shot through traffic and through Vikes goaltender Sunny Gill to end the game and send his teammates streaming off the bench to celebrate.
Hildebrand's goal represented the seventh point of the night by a Saints blueliner, as assistant captain Dylan Smith accounted for three points and second-year veterans Sandro Moser and Justin Sotkowy also found the scoresheet.
Selkirk now returns from Vancouver Island to face Trinity Western University in their first regular season game in front of their home fans. Faceoff is set for 8:00 PM on Friday, October 12th at the Castlegar Receation Complex. For ticket information visit www.GoSaints.ca.