Former Vipers Goaltender Gordon Leaves SFU:

Former Vernon Vipers goaltender Graeme Gordon has left the SFU's hockey team. Gordon was in his third year at Simon Fraser University. Gordon played parts of two seasons in Vernon (2008-2010) The Vipers traded Matt Cumming & future considerations on October, 8th 2008 to the Merritt Centennials for Gordon. In 60 regular season games with the Vipers Gordon collected 44 wins, 13 losses & 3 shutouts.

Graeme Gordon's Player Profile:

http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=38010

This was posted on the SFU website:

SFU falls to TRU to Open Second Half

Monday, January 13, 2014 - Submitted by Brady Trettenero

The SFU Men’s Hockey team kicked off the second half of the B.C. Intercollegiate Hockey League season with a 3-1 loss to Thompson River’s University on Saturday evening at the Bill Copeland Sports Center.

Despite taking on two NCAA Division 1 teams in exhibition play one week prior to Saturday, the Clan came out with a lackluster performance against TRU, getting outshot 32-24.

The WolfPack came into the game in third place in the BCIHL, but with the win, TRU moves into a three-way tie with SFU and Selkirk College for the top spot in the BCIHL.

“We had guys train really hard over the break. I thought we came out with energy and showed a lot of poise,” TRU coach Don Schulz said.

After Nick Sandor opened the scoring in the first period on a power play, TRU got three unanswered goals from Tyler Berkholtz (pp), Colton Schell, and Brodie Gibbon.

Though SFU scored the lone first-period goal, the Clan were outshot 11-5 in the opening frame. The Clan, who were 10-2-0 heading into Saturday’s tilt, suffered only their third loss of the season.

“Our players weren’t prepared and they didn’t take TRU seriously,” SFU coach Mark Coletta said. “They thought they could come in here and walk all over them.”

Both teams’ notched a power-play goal, but the Clan had five opportunities, leaving Mark Coletta wanting more.

“We got to get more pucks to the net. From there, we can create some openings down low. We just didn’t do a good job of getting any traffic to the net tonight.”

Special teams have played a major role in TRU’s success this season, and it was no different on Saturday.

Tyler Berkholtz scored a power-play goal off a feed from Duncan Schulz in the first period, while TRU killed off three crucial SFU power plays in the second period while the score was still 1-1.

“We have some excellent penalty killers and they did a great job tonight,” Schulz said.

Andrew Parent made the start in goal for SFU, turning away 29 shots, including a remarkable desperation pad save during a third-period TRU power-play.

With Graeme Gordon, the current BCIHL leader in GAA and save percentage not returning to the team for the winter semester, Parent will be counted on more than ever.

“We aren’t concerned about that,” Coletta said when asked about Gordon leaving. “We have had good goaltending the past three or four years here. Parent was great tonight. The boys let him down.”

Stephen Wolff stopped all but one of the 24 shots he faced in goal for TRU en route to his fifth win of the season.

These two teams will meet three more times this season, as the battle for the regular season title is likely to come down to the wire.

“We need to match their willingness and intensity to win loose pucks. That simply wasn’t there tonight,” Coletta said.

TRU coach Duncan Schulz knows beating SFU is never an easy task.

“We have to play well positionally. If we get out of sorts against a team like SFU, they can take you to the cleaners. We need to stay disciplined. Our penalty killers did great tonight, but we can’t keep giving this SFU team power- play opportunities.

Not only does TRU play SFU three more times this season, the WolfPack also take on reigning BCIHL champions Selkirk College twice before regular season end.

“We are the masters of our own destiny,” Schulz said.