February 13, 2007
2007 OUA MEN�S HOCKEY FIRST ROUND PLAYOFF PREVIEW
HAMILTON, Ont. – A quick look at the 2007 Ontario University Athletics (OUA) men’s hockey first round playoff match-ups.
McGill vs Concordia- #3 East vs #6 East
No. 9 McGill and Concordia are set to go toe-to-toe during the first round of the OUA hockey playoffs for the first time since 2001. Both teams concluded their regular season this past Sunday night as Concordia fell to the Gee-Gees 5-1 while McGill skated to a 2-2 overtime draw with the UQTR Patriots. McGill who finished the regular season with a 15-7-5-1 record will rely heavily on third year goaltender Mathieu Poitras (Gatineau, Quebec) who sits third in the CIS with a goals against average of 2.41. For their offensive power McGill will turn to veteran Shawn Shewchuk (Lloydminister, Alberta) who finished the season with a team leading nine goals and 23 assists. Concordia will have to bring everything to the table in this series, as McGill won the head to head competition this year with three wins and most recently a 2-2 tie on February 9. Concordia’s leadership will come from left winger Trevor Blanchard (Sudbury, Ontario) who is the front man of the team offensively with 14 goals and 17 assists. Concordia will hope to bring a rested and energized team to the game on Wednesday night, as they are fresh off a busy end to the season which saw the team play five games in nine days from February 2-11 coming into the playoffs.
McGill vs Concordia- #3 East vs #6 East
Game 1-February 14- 7:00 pm-McGill
Game 2-February 16- 7:30 pm-Concordia
Game 3-Februray 18- 7:00 pm- McGill (If Necessary)
Ottawa vs Queen’s- #4 East vs #5 East
With a new head coach behind the bench, Brett Gibson, the Queen’s Golden Gaels (8-14-5-1) make a return to the OUA playoffs in 2007 to take on the Ottawa Gee-Gees (11-12-3-2). With the inaugural playoff match up between these two teams, it might be one for the books if the regular season had any indication. After a 2-2 tie in game one of the home and home regular season series on November 3, Queen’s edged passed the Gee-Gees 2-1 in the second game on January 27. Ottawa will need centre Ben McLeod (Edmonton, Alberta) to continue his dominating presence on the ice. With 23 goals and 23 assists on the season, McLeod sits second in the CIS in points, and has become a lethal weapon on the power play with 10 goals with the man advantage. Queen’s will counter with Olsen Brady (Enterprise, Ontario) who has lead his team this season with 12 goals and 12 assists for 24 points. Golden Gaels goaltender Ryan Gibb (Scarborough, Ontario) who has played 27 of 28 games this season for Queen’s will need to take his game to the next level to stop McLeod and the Gee-Gees who are riding a four game winning streak entering the playoffs.
Ottawa vs Queen’s- #4 East vs #5 East
Game 1- February 14- 7:00 pm-Ottawa
Game 2- February 16- 7:30 pm- Queen’s
Game 3- February 18- 2:00 pm- Ottawa (If Necessary)
Western vs Brock- #3 West vs #6 West
In a tight battle for playoff positioning in the west division down the stretch, the Brock Badgers (14-12-1-1) find themselves matched up with the Western Mustangs (17-6-2-2) for the first round of the playoffs. In a regular season series which saw the Mustangs take the home and home series 2-0 (4-2 and 4-1) the Badgers will have to find a way to put the puck past Western goaltender Brad Topping (Strathroy, Ontario). Topping currently sits fourth in the CIS with a goals against average of 2.42, has three shutouts on the season and a .917 save percentage. Brock will need to find its leader in Ryan Del Monte who is the team’s most all around player. Del Monte who leads the team in points has a CIS leading two hat tricks on the season, as well as six power play goals, two short handed goals, and has provided the game winning goal five times for his team while accumulating 83 penalty minutes. Hoping to match the offensive power of Del Monte will be Western right winger Salvatore Peralta (Leamington, Ontario) who has tallied 19 goals, 16 assists for 35 points on the season for the Mustangs. This will be a series to watch as both teams enter the 2007 playoffs coming off a 3-1-1 record to close out the regular season.
Western vs Brock- #3 West vs #6 West
Game 1- February 15- 7:30 pm- Western
Game 2- February 17- 7:35 pm- Brock
Game 3- February 18- 7:30 pm- Western (If Necessary)
York vs Lakehead- #4 West vs #5 West
In a rematch of last year’s first round of playoffs the York Lions (13-10-3-2) and Lakehead Thunderwolves (13-10-3-2) again take to the ice. With a new coach behind the bench for the Lions in Bill Maguire, they hope to learn from their mistakes from last year’s early departure to the eventual Queen’s Cup Champion Thunderwolves. York features a quick team which uses their speed to play a high energy pressure game. The Lions will look to second year six-foot-five centre, Tyler Harrison (Whitby, Ontario) to provide the offensive touch for the team. Kevin Druce (Kingston, Ontario) will need to continue his stellar play into the playoffs as he finished the season with a 2.86 goals against average. Lakehead captain, Jeff Richards (Kenora, Ontario) is questionable for the Thunderwolves in their first game, with a lower body injury. Lakehead in turn will have to rely on second year forward Tobias Whelan (Orillia, Ontario) for their offensive strength. Whelan who leads the team in points tallied 16 goals, 25 assists for 41 points on the season, and is also a threat short handed with seven goals a man down. In head to head competition all time, Lakehead is a dominant 13-6 against the Lions, and in those games has outscored York 83-48. Wednesday's game will be video webcast live from Lakehead with ordering information available at www.thunderwolveshockey.com/ in the Webcasts and Broadcasting Section.
York vs Lakehead- #4 West vs #5 West
Game 1- February 14- 7:30 pm- Lakehead
Game 2- February 17- 2:00 pm- York
Game 3- February 18- 2:00 pm- York (If Necessary)
- OUA -
Michelle Church
Communications & Media Relations Coordinator
Ontario University Athletics
Tel: (905) 540-5156
Fax: (905) 574-2840
E-mail: michelle.church@oua.ca
Web: www.oua.ca
McGill vs Concordia- #3 East vs #6 East
No. 9 McGill and Concordia are set to go toe-to-toe during the first round of the OUA hockey playoffs for the first time since 2001. Both teams concluded their regular season this past Sunday night as Concordia fell to the Gee-Gees 5-1 while McGill skated to a 2-2 overtime draw with the UQTR Patriots. McGill who finished the regular season with a 15-7-5-1 record will rely heavily on third year goaltender Mathieu Poitras (Gatineau, Quebec) who sits third in the CIS with a goals against average of 2.41. For their offensive power McGill will turn to veteran Shawn Shewchuk (Lloydminister, Alberta) who finished the season with a team leading nine goals and 23 assists. Concordia will have to bring everything to the table in this series, as McGill won the head to head competition this year with three wins and most recently a 2-2 tie on February 9. Concordia’s leadership will come from left winger Trevor Blanchard (Sudbury, Ontario) who is the front man of the team offensively with 14 goals and 17 assists. Concordia will hope to bring a rested and energized team to the game on Wednesday night, as they are fresh off a busy end to the season which saw the team play five games in nine days from February 2-11 coming into the playoffs.
McGill vs Concordia- #3 East vs #6 East
Game 1-February 14- 7:00 pm-McGill
Game 2-February 16- 7:30 pm-Concordia
Game 3-Februray 18- 7:00 pm- McGill (If Necessary)
Ottawa vs Queen’s- #4 East vs #5 East
With a new head coach behind the bench, Brett Gibson, the Queen’s Golden Gaels (8-14-5-1) make a return to the OUA playoffs in 2007 to take on the Ottawa Gee-Gees (11-12-3-2). With the inaugural playoff match up between these two teams, it might be one for the books if the regular season had any indication. After a 2-2 tie in game one of the home and home regular season series on November 3, Queen’s edged passed the Gee-Gees 2-1 in the second game on January 27. Ottawa will need centre Ben McLeod (Edmonton, Alberta) to continue his dominating presence on the ice. With 23 goals and 23 assists on the season, McLeod sits second in the CIS in points, and has become a lethal weapon on the power play with 10 goals with the man advantage. Queen’s will counter with Olsen Brady (Enterprise, Ontario) who has lead his team this season with 12 goals and 12 assists for 24 points. Golden Gaels goaltender Ryan Gibb (Scarborough, Ontario) who has played 27 of 28 games this season for Queen’s will need to take his game to the next level to stop McLeod and the Gee-Gees who are riding a four game winning streak entering the playoffs.
Ottawa vs Queen’s- #4 East vs #5 East
Game 1- February 14- 7:00 pm-Ottawa
Game 2- February 16- 7:30 pm- Queen’s
Game 3- February 18- 2:00 pm- Ottawa (If Necessary)
Western vs Brock- #3 West vs #6 West
In a tight battle for playoff positioning in the west division down the stretch, the Brock Badgers (14-12-1-1) find themselves matched up with the Western Mustangs (17-6-2-2) for the first round of the playoffs. In a regular season series which saw the Mustangs take the home and home series 2-0 (4-2 and 4-1) the Badgers will have to find a way to put the puck past Western goaltender Brad Topping (Strathroy, Ontario). Topping currently sits fourth in the CIS with a goals against average of 2.42, has three shutouts on the season and a .917 save percentage. Brock will need to find its leader in Ryan Del Monte who is the team’s most all around player. Del Monte who leads the team in points has a CIS leading two hat tricks on the season, as well as six power play goals, two short handed goals, and has provided the game winning goal five times for his team while accumulating 83 penalty minutes. Hoping to match the offensive power of Del Monte will be Western right winger Salvatore Peralta (Leamington, Ontario) who has tallied 19 goals, 16 assists for 35 points on the season for the Mustangs. This will be a series to watch as both teams enter the 2007 playoffs coming off a 3-1-1 record to close out the regular season.
Western vs Brock- #3 West vs #6 West
Game 1- February 15- 7:30 pm- Western
Game 2- February 17- 7:35 pm- Brock
Game 3- February 18- 7:30 pm- Western (If Necessary)
York vs Lakehead- #4 West vs #5 West
In a rematch of last year’s first round of playoffs the York Lions (13-10-3-2) and Lakehead Thunderwolves (13-10-3-2) again take to the ice. With a new coach behind the bench for the Lions in Bill Maguire, they hope to learn from their mistakes from last year’s early departure to the eventual Queen’s Cup Champion Thunderwolves. York features a quick team which uses their speed to play a high energy pressure game. The Lions will look to second year six-foot-five centre, Tyler Harrison (Whitby, Ontario) to provide the offensive touch for the team. Kevin Druce (Kingston, Ontario) will need to continue his stellar play into the playoffs as he finished the season with a 2.86 goals against average. Lakehead captain, Jeff Richards (Kenora, Ontario) is questionable for the Thunderwolves in their first game, with a lower body injury. Lakehead in turn will have to rely on second year forward Tobias Whelan (Orillia, Ontario) for their offensive strength. Whelan who leads the team in points tallied 16 goals, 25 assists for 41 points on the season, and is also a threat short handed with seven goals a man down. In head to head competition all time, Lakehead is a dominant 13-6 against the Lions, and in those games has outscored York 83-48. Wednesday's game will be video webcast live from Lakehead with ordering information available at www.thunderwolveshockey.com/ in the Webcasts and Broadcasting Section.
York vs Lakehead- #4 West vs #5 West
Game 1- February 14- 7:30 pm- Lakehead
Game 2- February 17- 2:00 pm- York
Game 3- February 18- 2:00 pm- York (If Necessary)
- OUA -
Michelle Church
Communications & Media Relations Coordinator
Ontario University Athletics
Tel: (905) 540-5156
Fax: (905) 574-2840
E-mail: michelle.church@oua.ca
Web: www.oua.ca
