Simon Fraser Univer-sity won the inaugural University Hockey Showcase over the University of B.C. in a shootout on home ice.
Jono Ceci scored the game-winning goal in an extra fourth shootout round to give Simon Fraser the inaugural hockey showcase title over its Canadian Interuniversity Sports rival on Saturday.
The B.C. Intercollegiate league Clan club hockey team won the opening matchup in the two-game, home-and-home series 3-1 at UBC's Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre on Friday.
UBC repaid the favour the following evening, tying the series by a similar 3-1 scoreline at the Bill Copeland Sports Centre.
The two university club's played a scoreless four-on-four overtime.
"This was a tremendous event that obviously captured a great deal of attention around the Lower Mainland," SFU head coach Mark Coletta in an SFU press release. "The fan support tonight and the media coverage over the last few days has been outstanding. Obviously there's an appetite for university hockey, especially with the UBC/SFU rivalry. Winning the event was a great end to a fun couple of days."
SFU's two goaltenders were both named players of the game in the two-game series.
Graeme Gordon stopped 49 shots in Burnaby, while Evan Kurylo was the difference in the opening game in UBC, making 42 saves to earn the first star.
The return of two veteran players to the Clan lineup also paid big dividends for SFU.
Defenceman Kyle Boyko, who was picked up along with Bill Smith just prior to the game, scored what proved to be the game-winning goal in Friday's win, firing a shot from the point in the first period that gave SFU a 2-1 lead.
Smith opened the shootout round on Saturday with a goal for the Clan.
Kyle Leung and Colton Graf also tallied single markers for SFU in the opening game at UBC.
UBC's Marc-Antoine Juneau scored the first-ever goal in the showcase, converting a pass on the power play from Cole Pruden at 2:58 of the first period.
At home, SFU captain Chris Hoe got his team's only goal in regulation time in the second game. Juneau, with his second of the series, and Scott Wasden and Michael Wilgosh, with the man advantage, also scored for the Thunderbirds.
SFU resumes intercollegiate league play this weekend against Selkirk College.
