CHAMBERLAIN FILLS NET FOR STREAKING MUSTANGS
Evan Kotsopolous scored twice as the Mustangs kicked off the second half of the OUA hockey season with a decisive 8-3 win over Kirk Muller's Queen's Golden Gaels. Kotsopolous opened the scoring at 2:53 of the first period, the first of six straight Western goals. Sean Scully and Chris Rowan had three assists apiece for the Far West leading Mustangs, while Sal Peralta chipped in a power-play marker and an assist. Chamberlain also scored in that game, his first of six goals on the week. Brad Topping made 21 saves to earn the win in the Western goal. Topping also made 24 saves in the first Waterloo game. Jeff Bigelow led Queen's with a goal and an assist.
Simon Barg scored his second of the game 4:42 of overtime to give the Toronto Varsity Blues a dramatic 3-2 win over the rival Ryerson Rams Thursday at the George Bell Arena. Down 2-1 after 40 minutes, Ray Smegal scored in the third period to send the game to the extra session. Smegal also chipped in two assists, while Brian Dunnigan came on in relief of Ryan Grinnell and stopped 10 shots in two periods and the overtime for the win. The two teams met again Saturday, with the Blues coming out on top 5-2. Alex Nagribianko scored the winner and had an assist, while Barg, Smegal and Anthony Pallotta had a goal and a helper each. Kevin Krasnowski and Alex Butkus had first-period goals for the Rams. The wins were the first two of the season for the Blues.
The McGill Redmen kept their undefeated record intact with a 4-2 win over the Ottawa Gee-Gees Friday at McConnell Arena. McGill (11-0-2-0) trailed 1-0 at the first intermission but erupted for three goals in the second period, before the teams exchanged goals in the third. Benoit Martin scored twice and added an assist for the Redmen, while standout goaltender Mathieu Poitras improved to 8-0-1 with a 22-save performance. Poitras leads the CIS with a sparkling 1.43 goals against average. Paul Gauthier had a goal and an assist for the Gee-Gees (7-6-1-1).
The York Lions took control of the OUA's Far West division with a 5-2 victory over the second place Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks Friday. Fourth-year winger Blair Grennier scored twice, while goaltender Kevin Druce had a busy night, stopping 36 of the 38 shots he faced. Mark Voakes had a goal and an assist for Laurier. York followed that win up with a 3-2 victory over the Guelph Gryphons Sunday in Guelph. Jon Hedberg had a goal and an assist, including the game-winner on the power play at 18:21 of the second period. Darryl Thompson chipped in two points, while Druce had another solid outing, making 32 saves for his second victory between the pipes on the weekend. York (7-5-1-2) leads Laurier by two points in the division. The Golden Hawks got three first-period goals and went on to beat the Brock Badgers 4-2 in their only other game this week. Brock got to within one in the second period on a power-play goal from Jason Harshaw but Voakes put the game away in the third when he scored at 4:45. Luke Girard had two goals for the Hawks and Justin Day made 39 saves for his fifth win this season.
Matt Kenney stopped all 31 shots he faced for the shutout as Queen's blanked the RMC Paladins 1-0 Friday. Brady Olsen scored the game's only goal 4:41 of the first period as the Gaels hung on to win for the fifth time this year. Queen's trails the Mid West leading Paladins by four points. RMC is 5-7-4-0.
(Photo: Ryan MacGregor goes hard to the net trying to beat Western stopper Scott Dickie. Photo by Steve Brooks.)