March 24, 2007
NO.5 V-REDS SHUT-OUT UQTR IN CIS MEN'S HOCKEY CHAMPIONSHIP
MONCTON (CIS) - Six different players scored for fifth-seeded University of New Brunswick as the Varsity Reds earned a berth in Sunday's national final with an easy 6-0 victory over the No. 3 UQTR Patriotes in the third and final Pool B round-robin match-up at the 2007 CIS men's hockey championship at the Moncton Coliseum, on Saturday afternoon.
The V-Reds advance to the University Cup gold-medal game for the fifth time in history and for the first time since a heart-breaking, 3-2 double-overtime loss to St. Francis Xavier on home ice in 2004. UNB has claimed its lone CIS banner in 1997-98 with a 6-3 victory over Acadia in the title match.
The Atlantic conference finalists will face the winners of Saturday night's tilt between No. 1 Moncton and No. 4 Laurier Sunday at 8 p.m. (Atlantic Time, live on TSN and RDS).
The OUA champion Patriotes, who return home from Moncton with a 1-1 record, were shut out for only the second time in 33 all-time games at the University Cup tournament. Alberta beat UQTR 11-0 in round-robin play in 2005 on its way to the national title.
UNB dominated from start to finish and ended up with a 34-19 edge in shots on goal, including a 15-3 advantage in the second period when they scored three times to turn a slim 1-0 lead into a comfortable 4-0 cushion.
Denny Johnston (Rosetown, Sask.), Rob Hennigar (Jordan, Ont.), Nathan O'Nabigon (Thunder Bay, Ont.), John Scott Dickson (Mississauga, Ont.), Darryl Boyce (Summerside, P.E.I.) and Nick Marach (Delta, B.C.) found the back of the net for the V-Reds.
Johnston, who opened the scoring 4:40 into the contest on a perfect shot inside the stick-side post at the end of a three-on-two rush, and Boyce had provided the offense for UNB in a 2-1 win over Saskatchewan in the tournament opener on Thursday.
"As a coach, you're always looking for the perfect hockey game, and we came pretty close today. We elevated the standards of our hockey program with this performance," said UNB head coach Gardiner MacDougall. "At this time of the year, you need these complete efforts."
"We got a second chance to play in this tournament and we realize it, we want to make the most of it. It's not often you get a second chance," continued MacDougall, whose troops were swept in two games by Moncton in the AUS final.
Less than two minutes following Johnston's opening goal, sophomore defenseman David Bowman (St. Catharines, Ont.) was assessed a five-minute major and a game-misconduct after he cross-checked UQTR forward Éric Beaudin (Laval, Que.) in front of his net, while O'Nabigon was already in the penalty box.
The Patriotes failed to capitalize on the 27-second two-man advantage and only managed two shots on goal for the remainder of the major.
"Definitely, that was a turning point," said UNB captain Dustin Friesen (Waldheim, Sask.). "We gained a lot of confidence from that big penalty kill. We've been practicing special teams hard all year."
UNB converted two of nine power play opportunities while UQTR went 0-for-4.
Rookie goaltender Michael Ouzas (Hamilton) picked up the shutout and has now allowed only one goal on 48 shots in two outings at the championship.
Fifth-year netiminder Dany Dallaire (St-Narcisse-de-Beaurivage, Que.) took the loss in his final varsity start, 24 hours after a stellar 40-save performance in a 3-2 win over Saskatchewan.
"It's sad of course to see our season end this way but when I look at the year as a whole, I couldn't be more proud of this group of guys. From where we started this year to where we finished, these guys accomplished something pretty special," commented UQTR bench boss Jacques Laporte, whose roster was comprised of 20 of 24 players in their first or second year of CIS eligibility.
"It was really emotional for me to see all the guys come to my crease and congratulate me at the end of the game. I was touched, they showed me a lot of respect," said Dallaire.
(Source: Canadian Interuniversity Sport)
The V-Reds advance to the University Cup gold-medal game for the fifth time in history and for the first time since a heart-breaking, 3-2 double-overtime loss to St. Francis Xavier on home ice in 2004. UNB has claimed its lone CIS banner in 1997-98 with a 6-3 victory over Acadia in the title match.
The Atlantic conference finalists will face the winners of Saturday night's tilt between No. 1 Moncton and No. 4 Laurier Sunday at 8 p.m. (Atlantic Time, live on TSN and RDS).
The OUA champion Patriotes, who return home from Moncton with a 1-1 record, were shut out for only the second time in 33 all-time games at the University Cup tournament. Alberta beat UQTR 11-0 in round-robin play in 2005 on its way to the national title.
UNB dominated from start to finish and ended up with a 34-19 edge in shots on goal, including a 15-3 advantage in the second period when they scored three times to turn a slim 1-0 lead into a comfortable 4-0 cushion.
Denny Johnston (Rosetown, Sask.), Rob Hennigar (Jordan, Ont.), Nathan O'Nabigon (Thunder Bay, Ont.), John Scott Dickson (Mississauga, Ont.), Darryl Boyce (Summerside, P.E.I.) and Nick Marach (Delta, B.C.) found the back of the net for the V-Reds.
Johnston, who opened the scoring 4:40 into the contest on a perfect shot inside the stick-side post at the end of a three-on-two rush, and Boyce had provided the offense for UNB in a 2-1 win over Saskatchewan in the tournament opener on Thursday.
"As a coach, you're always looking for the perfect hockey game, and we came pretty close today. We elevated the standards of our hockey program with this performance," said UNB head coach Gardiner MacDougall. "At this time of the year, you need these complete efforts."
"We got a second chance to play in this tournament and we realize it, we want to make the most of it. It's not often you get a second chance," continued MacDougall, whose troops were swept in two games by Moncton in the AUS final.
Less than two minutes following Johnston's opening goal, sophomore defenseman David Bowman (St. Catharines, Ont.) was assessed a five-minute major and a game-misconduct after he cross-checked UQTR forward Éric Beaudin (Laval, Que.) in front of his net, while O'Nabigon was already in the penalty box.
The Patriotes failed to capitalize on the 27-second two-man advantage and only managed two shots on goal for the remainder of the major.
"Definitely, that was a turning point," said UNB captain Dustin Friesen (Waldheim, Sask.). "We gained a lot of confidence from that big penalty kill. We've been practicing special teams hard all year."
UNB converted two of nine power play opportunities while UQTR went 0-for-4.
Rookie goaltender Michael Ouzas (Hamilton) picked up the shutout and has now allowed only one goal on 48 shots in two outings at the championship.
Fifth-year netiminder Dany Dallaire (St-Narcisse-de-Beaurivage, Que.) took the loss in his final varsity start, 24 hours after a stellar 40-save performance in a 3-2 win over Saskatchewan.
"It's sad of course to see our season end this way but when I look at the year as a whole, I couldn't be more proud of this group of guys. From where we started this year to where we finished, these guys accomplished something pretty special," commented UQTR bench boss Jacques Laporte, whose roster was comprised of 20 of 24 players in their first or second year of CIS eligibility.
"It was really emotional for me to see all the guys come to my crease and congratulate me at the end of the game. I was touched, they showed me a lot of respect," said Dallaire.
(Source: Canadian Interuniversity Sport)
