HAWKS GROUNDED BY HOMETOWN BEARS

By Dan Carle

EDMONTON (CIS) - The host Golden Bears came out flying in defence of the University Cup with a goal in the first two minutes - and seven more for good measure.

Joff Kehler and Harlan Anderson each scored twice as Alberta scored five powerplay goals in a dominant 8-2 win over Wilfrid Laurier.

TELUS University Cup web site: http://www.cisport.ca/e/championships/m_hockey/2006

\"It's like trying to keep a bunch of thoroughbreads back,\" said Golden Bears first-year coach Eric Thurston, as the club attempts to become the only CIS school to win back-to-back titles at home.

Ben Thomson, Brian Ballman, Ben Kilgour, and Dylan Stanley had the other goals for Alberta, 1-0, which met the Golden Hawks for the first time at the six-team national men's hockey tournament.

Stanley finished with four assists, Thomson with three, as the Golden Bears outshot the Golden Hawks 51-21.

The game's fate was decided early after the Golden Bears outshot the Golden Hawks 17-3 in the opening period and scored three goals before 3,009 at Clare Drake Arena, with Laurier taking seven penalties to Alberta's two.

\"We knew a big start would help us a lot,\" said Anderson. \"Guys were really ready to go.\"

Tension was running high in the second period after Golden Hawks forward Luke Girard pounded Kilgour along the half-boards and was then wrestled to the ice by the linesman before being assessed a game misconduct.

Alberta, seeking a CIS-record 12th national title, scored thee times in the second period on a pair of goals by Anderson and single from Kehler.

\"Even with all the hype and everything you still have to win,\" said Anderson. \"We've won one so far.\"

Laurier switched goalies from Justin Day (29-6) to Jeff MacDougald to start the third period but Kilgour scored on Alberta's third shot of the frame.

Dan Ehrman deked and scored a powerplay goal and Riley Moher also scored for the Golden Hawks in the third period.

\"Tonight they were fresher,\" said Ehrman. \"Better legs.\"

Wilfrid Laurier, 0-2, opened the University Cup with a 4-3 double overtime loss to McGill on Thursday.

\"We were tired,\" said Golden hawks coach Steve Martell. \"We were a step behind all night and it was tought for us to get going.\"

Saskatchewan and Lakehead square off Saturday morning and Alberta and McGill meet in the afternoon of the final day of round-robin play before Sunday's final.

NOTES: The Golden Bears defeated Trois Rivieries 11-0 to open the 2004-05 tournament and beat St. FX 12-3 in its first game at the 1967-68 University Cup and went on to claim the University Cup in both seasons ... This is Laurier's seventh trip to the University Cup with no national titles.

SCORING SUMMARY

Alberta 8, Wilfrid Laurier 2

FIRST PERIOD

SCORING:

1. ALB Joff Kehler (1) (B. Thomson, D. Stanley), 1:50
2. ALB Ben Thomson (1) (D. Stanley, C. Ovington), 5:46 PP
3. ALB B. Ballman (1) (J. Hobson, T. Metcalfe), 13:29

PENALTIES:

R. Stempfle (ALB) holding the stick, 2:32; A. Wood (WLU) interference, 5:13; D. Ehrman (WLU) high-sticking, 7:48; C. Ovington (ALB) hooking, 14:30; J. Grangfield (WLU) slashing, 17:20; R. Moher (WLU) slashing, 17:54; R. Dmytruk (WLU) cross checking, 19:10; N. Vergeer (WLU) roughing, 19:10; D. Erhman (WLU) slashing, 20:00.

SECOND PERIOD

SCORING:

4. ALB Harlan Anderson (1) (B. Thomson, D. Stanley), 1:27 PP
5. ALB Joff Kehler (2) (P. Johnson, D. Stanley), 2:46 PP
6. ALB Harlan Anderson (2) (P. Johnson, B. Tutschek), 9:59 PP

PENALTIES:

J. Kehler (ALB) hooking, 0:25; R. Courtney (WLU) checking-to-the-head minor, 10-minute misconduct, 3:25; C. Rich (ALB) slashing, 5:14; R. Stempfle (ALB) tripping, 6:13; L. Girard (WLU) checking-from-behind minor, game misconduct, 9:28; J. Grover (WLU) roughing, 9:28; C. Ovington (ALB) roughing, 9:28; C. Ovington (ALB) slashing, 12:39; J. Grover (WLU) roughing, 15:57.

THIRD PERIOD

SCORING:

7. ALB Ben Kilgour (1) (T. Krymusa, B. Tutschek), 1:40
8. WLU Dan Ehrman (1) (R. Moher), 3:21 PP
9. WLU Riley Moher (1) (R. Courtney, J. Edgar), 9:37
10. ALB Dylan Stanley (1) (B. Thomson, G. McLeod), 13:01 PP

PENALTIES:

R. Stempfle (ALB) hooking, 1:52; J. Grandfield (WLU) roughing, 5:22; M. Maccarone (WLU) slashing, 11:05; T. Metcalfe (ALB) high-sticking, 11:21; N. Vergeer (WLU) slashing, 12:06; G. McLeod (ALB) slashing, 17:25.

POWER PLAY:
ALB: 5/13
WLU: 1/7

SHOTS ON GOAL (by period)
ALB: 17-12-22:51
WLU: 3-10-8:21

GOALTENDERS
ALB - Aaron Sorochan (W, 16 shots, 14 saves, 51:05)
ALB - Blake Grenier (5 shots, 5 saves, 8:55)
WLU - Justin Day (L, 29 shots, 23 saves, 40:00)
WLU - Jeff MacDougald (22 shots, 20 saves, 20:00)

ELITE SPORTSWEAR PLAYERS OF THE GAME:
ALB: Dylan Stanley
WLU: Dan Ehrman

REFEREE: Francis Charron

LINESMEN: Matt Beaudry, Ray Damphousse

ATTENDANCE: 3009

SCHEDULE & RESULTS (All times LOCAL / Mountain Time)

Pre-tournament seeding

1. Alberta Golden Bears
2. Acadia Axemen
3. Lakehead Thunderwolves
4. McGill Redmen
5. Saskatchewan Huskies
6. Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks

Thursday, March 23
Game 1 (Clare Drake Arena): Saskatchewan 5, Acadia 1
Game 2 (Clare Drake Arena): McGill 4, Wilfrid Laurier 3 (2OT)

Friday, March 24
Game 3 (Clare Drake Arena): Lakehead 4, Acadia 3
Game 4 (Clare Drake Arena): Alberta 8, Wilfrid Laurier 2

Saturday March 25
11:00 Game 5 (Clare Drake Arena): Saskatchewan (5) vs. Lakehead (3)
16:00 Game 6 (Clare Drake Arena): McGill (4) vs. Alberta (1) (live on TSN)

Sunday March 26
19:00 Championship final (Rexall Place): (TSN / following NHL broadcast)

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