February 20, 2008
2008 OUA MEN'S HOCKEY QUARTER-FINAL PLAYOFF PREVIEW
HAMILTON, Ont. - A quick look at the 2008 Ontario University Athletics (OUA) men's hockey quarter-final playoff match-ups.
Lakehead vs Laurier - #1 West vs #5 West
The No.3 Lakehead Thunderwolves men's hockey team (23-4-0-1) opens OUA quarter-final playoff action this Thursday on the road at the Sun Life Arena in the Waterloo Recreation Complex as they take on the Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks (16-9-0-3). Lakehead ended regular season tops in the OUA West Division and the OUA Conference. Lakehead last saw action two weeks ago when they finished regular season play with one of their gruelling three-games-in-three-days road trips; and went 2-1 to close out the season with a win over Toronto and a split with Western. Laurier ended their regular season a very close fourth in the brutally competitive OUA Far West Division. The Hawks are 2-1 in OUA playoff action, defeating cross-town rivals Waterloo in their OUA first round playoff series. The Wolves are 14-10 against Laurier all-time; 10-6 in regular season play, 2-3 in playoffs, and 2-1 in non-conference action. Lakehead has outscored Laurier 100-78 in those 24 games. This year Lakehead is 3-1 in four regular season meetings. Lakehead split the away series in October in Waterloo; winning 6-3 and losing 4-3. The Wolves then won twice at home at the beginning of February by scores of 3-2 and 7-5. The Wolves will be led from the back by senior netminder Chris Whitley who led the OUA in GAA (2.05), was second in save percentage (.925) and was tied for third in regular season wins (15-0). The Hawks are a dangerous offensive squad led by the potent forward line of Craig Voakes (23 goals, 19 assists, St. Thomas, ON), Mark Voakes (15 goals, 27 assists, St.Thomas, ON), and Nick Vergeer (7 goals, 25 assists, West Lorne, ON). Lakehead's defense will have to be at its best to limit their relentless attack. Craig Voakes was second in the CIS behind Lakehead captain Andrew Brown with game-winning goals (5).
Quarter-final Playoff Series Game Times
Game 1 - February 21 - 7:30 pm @ Laurier
Game 2 - February 23 - 7:30 pm @ Lakehead
Game 3 - February 24 - 7:30 pm @ Lakehead (If Necessary)
Brock vs Western - #2 West vs #3 West
The Brock Badgers (17-8-0-3) will take on their OUA West rival No. 8 Western Mustangs (18-5-0-5) in a rematch of the 2006-07 OUA quarter-finals which saw the Mustangs take the series with a 3-2 win in double overtime in game three last season. The Badgers will be hard pressed as Western took the home and home series two games to zero this season with the Mustangs winning 6-0 and 5-3. The Badgers will rely on top point getter Ryan Del Monte (Mississauga, ON) who finished the season with 19 goals and 16 assists. They will also need a strong effort from veteran goaltender Matt Harpwood (Welland, ON) who comes into the playoffs with a 14-8-0 regular season record and a 2.67 goals against average. The Mustangs will counter with the one-two punch of Kevin Richardson (South Surrey, BC) who finished third in OUA scoring with 18 goals and 26 assists on the year, and Salvatore Peralta (Leamington, ON) who wasn't far behind with 18 goals and 23 assists. Western goaltender Keyvan Hunt (Coquitlam, BC) will need to continue his momentum from the York series, which saw him let in only two goals on 56 shots helping the Mustangs sweep the Lions.
Quarter-final Playoff Series Game Times
Game 1 - February 20 - 7:35 pm @ Brock
Game 2 - February 22 - 7:00 pm @ Western
Game 3 - February 24 - 7:35 pm @ Brock (If Necessary)
UQTR vs Ottawa - #1 East vs #4 East
First-year right wing Colin Bowie scored the Gee-Gees (14-12-0-2) third powerplay goal at 0:43 of overtime this past Sunday night as uOttawa defeated Toronto 3-2 to advance to the OUA quarter-finals against the No.5 UQTR Patriotes (22-5-0-1). Ottawa will be in tough as the Patriotes have taken their four-game regular season series three games to one with scores of 6-2, 2-1 and 4-1, with Ottawa taking an October 3rd victory 3-2 in overtime. The Gee-Gees will look to continue their balanced offense as five different players scored Ottawa's seven goals in the series against Toronto. The Gee-Gees will also rely on third year left winger Dan McDonald (New Liskard, ON) to step up his game as he led the team offensively in the regular season and contributed with four assists against the Blues. UQTR will look to Mathieu Gravel (Greenfield Park, QC) who finished the regular season fifth in OUA scoring with 16 goals and 27 assists.
Quarter-final Playoff Series Game Times
Game 1 - February 20 - 7:00 pm @ UQTR
Game 2 - February 22 - 7:00 pm @ Ottawa
Game 3 - February 24 - 1:45 pm @ UQTR (If Necessary)
Queen's vs McGill- #2 East vs #3 East
The Queen's Golden Gaels (13-12-0-3) will face their arch-rival the No. 10 McGill Redmen (18-9-0-1) when their quarter-final match up gets underway on Wednesday in Napanee, Ontario. This past Friday, McGill knocked off Carleton 5-3 and earned a sweep (2-0) over the Ravens in the first round of OUA playoffs. The Redmen victory sets up the second all-time playoff meeting between the two historic rivals with the last coming 98 years ago. In a match-up which saw the Gaels skate to an 8-2 victory in a sudden death affair in the league final, held in Ottawa on March 7, 1910. The Queen's-McGill rivalry dates back to 1895 and is the fourth longest rivalry in hockey history. The Gaels will be in tough against McGill, as the Redmen hold the series advantage this season. McGill won 6-2 in Kingston (Nov. 17) and 10-1 at McConnell Arena (Jan. 18) to sweep the season series. McGill has won nine straight over Queen's and 25 of the last 27 meetings. Queen's will look to fourth-year forward Brady Olsen (Enterprise, ON) to continue to lead the Gaels offense as he finished the regular season tops on the team with 19 goals and 13 assists. McGill will counter with offensive set-up man Shawn Shewchuk (Lloydminister, AB) who tallied nine goals and 26 assists during the regular season.
Quarter-final Playoff Series Game Times
Game 1 - February 20 - 8:30 pm @ Queen's
Game 2 - February 22 - 7:30 pm @ McGill
Game 3 - February 23 - 8:30 pm @ Queen's (If Necessary)
Official Sponsors of OUA Men's Hockey Playoffs: Harrow Sports Canada Ltd., Pioneer Petroleums, and Pizza Pizza
- 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
Lakehead vs Laurier - #1 West vs #5 West
The No.3 Lakehead Thunderwolves men's hockey team (23-4-0-1) opens OUA quarter-final playoff action this Thursday on the road at the Sun Life Arena in the Waterloo Recreation Complex as they take on the Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks (16-9-0-3). Lakehead ended regular season tops in the OUA West Division and the OUA Conference. Lakehead last saw action two weeks ago when they finished regular season play with one of their gruelling three-games-in-three-days road trips; and went 2-1 to close out the season with a win over Toronto and a split with Western. Laurier ended their regular season a very close fourth in the brutally competitive OUA Far West Division. The Hawks are 2-1 in OUA playoff action, defeating cross-town rivals Waterloo in their OUA first round playoff series. The Wolves are 14-10 against Laurier all-time; 10-6 in regular season play, 2-3 in playoffs, and 2-1 in non-conference action. Lakehead has outscored Laurier 100-78 in those 24 games. This year Lakehead is 3-1 in four regular season meetings. Lakehead split the away series in October in Waterloo; winning 6-3 and losing 4-3. The Wolves then won twice at home at the beginning of February by scores of 3-2 and 7-5. The Wolves will be led from the back by senior netminder Chris Whitley who led the OUA in GAA (2.05), was second in save percentage (.925) and was tied for third in regular season wins (15-0). The Hawks are a dangerous offensive squad led by the potent forward line of Craig Voakes (23 goals, 19 assists, St. Thomas, ON), Mark Voakes (15 goals, 27 assists, St.Thomas, ON), and Nick Vergeer (7 goals, 25 assists, West Lorne, ON). Lakehead's defense will have to be at its best to limit their relentless attack. Craig Voakes was second in the CIS behind Lakehead captain Andrew Brown with game-winning goals (5).
Quarter-final Playoff Series Game Times
Game 1 - February 21 - 7:30 pm @ Laurier
Game 2 - February 23 - 7:30 pm @ Lakehead
Game 3 - February 24 - 7:30 pm @ Lakehead (If Necessary)
Brock vs Western - #2 West vs #3 West
The Brock Badgers (17-8-0-3) will take on their OUA West rival No. 8 Western Mustangs (18-5-0-5) in a rematch of the 2006-07 OUA quarter-finals which saw the Mustangs take the series with a 3-2 win in double overtime in game three last season. The Badgers will be hard pressed as Western took the home and home series two games to zero this season with the Mustangs winning 6-0 and 5-3. The Badgers will rely on top point getter Ryan Del Monte (Mississauga, ON) who finished the season with 19 goals and 16 assists. They will also need a strong effort from veteran goaltender Matt Harpwood (Welland, ON) who comes into the playoffs with a 14-8-0 regular season record and a 2.67 goals against average. The Mustangs will counter with the one-two punch of Kevin Richardson (South Surrey, BC) who finished third in OUA scoring with 18 goals and 26 assists on the year, and Salvatore Peralta (Leamington, ON) who wasn't far behind with 18 goals and 23 assists. Western goaltender Keyvan Hunt (Coquitlam, BC) will need to continue his momentum from the York series, which saw him let in only two goals on 56 shots helping the Mustangs sweep the Lions.
Quarter-final Playoff Series Game Times
Game 1 - February 20 - 7:35 pm @ Brock
Game 2 - February 22 - 7:00 pm @ Western
Game 3 - February 24 - 7:35 pm @ Brock (If Necessary)
UQTR vs Ottawa - #1 East vs #4 East
First-year right wing Colin Bowie scored the Gee-Gees (14-12-0-2) third powerplay goal at 0:43 of overtime this past Sunday night as uOttawa defeated Toronto 3-2 to advance to the OUA quarter-finals against the No.5 UQTR Patriotes (22-5-0-1). Ottawa will be in tough as the Patriotes have taken their four-game regular season series three games to one with scores of 6-2, 2-1 and 4-1, with Ottawa taking an October 3rd victory 3-2 in overtime. The Gee-Gees will look to continue their balanced offense as five different players scored Ottawa's seven goals in the series against Toronto. The Gee-Gees will also rely on third year left winger Dan McDonald (New Liskard, ON) to step up his game as he led the team offensively in the regular season and contributed with four assists against the Blues. UQTR will look to Mathieu Gravel (Greenfield Park, QC) who finished the regular season fifth in OUA scoring with 16 goals and 27 assists.
Quarter-final Playoff Series Game Times
Game 1 - February 20 - 7:00 pm @ UQTR
Game 2 - February 22 - 7:00 pm @ Ottawa
Game 3 - February 24 - 1:45 pm @ UQTR (If Necessary)
Queen's vs McGill- #2 East vs #3 East
The Queen's Golden Gaels (13-12-0-3) will face their arch-rival the No. 10 McGill Redmen (18-9-0-1) when their quarter-final match up gets underway on Wednesday in Napanee, Ontario. This past Friday, McGill knocked off Carleton 5-3 and earned a sweep (2-0) over the Ravens in the first round of OUA playoffs. The Redmen victory sets up the second all-time playoff meeting between the two historic rivals with the last coming 98 years ago. In a match-up which saw the Gaels skate to an 8-2 victory in a sudden death affair in the league final, held in Ottawa on March 7, 1910. The Queen's-McGill rivalry dates back to 1895 and is the fourth longest rivalry in hockey history. The Gaels will be in tough against McGill, as the Redmen hold the series advantage this season. McGill won 6-2 in Kingston (Nov. 17) and 10-1 at McConnell Arena (Jan. 18) to sweep the season series. McGill has won nine straight over Queen's and 25 of the last 27 meetings. Queen's will look to fourth-year forward Brady Olsen (Enterprise, ON) to continue to lead the Gaels offense as he finished the regular season tops on the team with 19 goals and 13 assists. McGill will counter with offensive set-up man Shawn Shewchuk (Lloydminister, AB) who tallied nine goals and 26 assists during the regular season.
Quarter-final Playoff Series Game Times
Game 1 - February 20 - 8:30 pm @ Queen's
Game 2 - February 22 - 7:30 pm @ McGill
Game 3 - February 23 - 8:30 pm @ Queen's (If Necessary)
Official Sponsors of OUA Men's Hockey Playoffs: Harrow Sports Canada Ltd., Pioneer Petroleums, and Pizza Pizza
- 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
