Season Preview: Hnatiuk on board to lead Saints back into title contention

In addition to entering the 2019/20 B.C. Intercollegiate Hockey League season with a revamped roster that features 14 rookies, the Selkirk College Saints are also the lone team with a new face behind the bench.

Dave Hnatiuk, a former assistant with the University of Lethbridge in USports, was announced as the fifth head coach in Saints history in June. His mission is to help return Selkirk to the championship glory years of 2013-16 after a three-year dry spell.

Last year's Saints team had an up-and-down campaign that included 13 wins and a second place finish, but saw the squad allow more goals than they scored. It was puncuated by a first round playoff defeat in Castlegar at the hands of Vancouver Island University, marking the first time in program history that they lost a postseason series on home ice.

KEY RETURNERS

Goal scoring shouldn't be an issue for a Saints team that returns its top five scoring forwards, including 15-goal, 27-point man Ed Lindsey. He's joined by Dylan Heppler (23 points), Nolan Percival (17 ), Tayden Woods (17) and Kadrian Klimchuk (14) to form a strong top-six who all sport local KIJHL ties.

The blueline is led by third year defender Parker Wakaruk, who netted 13 points last season while playing a strong two-way game that earned him BCIHL all-star honours for the second year running. Former Campbell River Storm teammates Brayden McCartney and Joe Gage will also provide continuity.

After splitting starting dutues with Patrick Zubick last season, sophomore Tallon Kramer will take the reins in goal. The 22-year old allowed two goals or fewer in seven of 11 starts, and finished the year with a 4.10 goals-against and .896 save-percentage.

NEW TO THE TEAM

Selkirk's forward core has been boosted by a quartet of high-scoring talent, including Junior A graduates Johnny Foley and Blake Sidoni. Foley had a cup of coffee in the QMJHL before staking out a productive career in the Maritime Junior League, most recently with the Miramichi Timberwolves, while Sidoni suited up for the Trail Smoke Eaters before netting 47 points with the MJHL's Virden Oil Capitals last season.

KIJHL alums Garrett Hilton and Jack Karran have also joined the squad, with Hilton coming off a 72-point season in 100 Mile House and Karran having put up 61 points while captaining the Nelson Leafs.

Tristen Cross is a big addition for the Saints on defence, with over 200 Junior A games under his belt with Virden. He scored 15 goals and totaled 45 points last season, good for 2nd and 3rd best in the MJHL respectively. KIJHL grads Evan Gorman, Derian Bamber, Chris Pederson and Dallas Goodwin will battle for ice on the Saints blueline.

Replacing graduated netminder Patrick Zubick is former Summerland Steam backstop Jared Breitkreuz, who posted a 2.78 GAA in 29 appearances last season.

GETTING STARTED

The Saints open their regular season schedule this weekend when they hit Vancouver Island for a pair of games against Victoria and VIU on Saturday and Sunday. They'll return the Kootenays to face the Vikes in their home opener on October 11th.