February 28, 2008
BROCK AND MCGILL TAKE GAME ONE IN OUA MEN'S HOCKEY CONFERENCE FINALS
Brock 4, Lakehead 2
The Brock University men's hockey team knocked off the No. 3 ranked Lakehead Thunderwolves by the score of 4-2 in Game One of the best of three OUA Semi-Finals. The Badgers, who were outshot 45-23 got spectacular goaltending from senior Matt Harpwood (Welland, Ont.) who recorded a game high 43 saves for the victory.
The first period of the OUA semi-finals was an even affair as both teams felt each other out. There was a lot of flow with both teams taking care of the defensive zone. It would be mid-way through the first period before Brock would be able to break down the Thunderwolves defense as Captain Ryan Del Monte (Mississauga, ON) would streak down the left wing, beating the defenseman to the net and with a nifty move would score the first goal of the series putting Brock ahead 1-0. Immediately after the goal Lakehead would up the tempo, forcing Brock to take penalties in order to contain their efforts. As a result, Lakehead?s power play would find themselves on a 5-3 which was very efficient in opening Mike Wehrstedt (Thunder Bay, ON) at the point to blast the puck past Harpwood tying the game 1-1.
In the second period of play Lakehead came out of the gates flying, they began early and continued throughout the period to pressure Harpwood. Harpwood was solid in net allowing Brock to bide their time until their power play got a chance to take the ice. Jonathan Labelle (Prevost, QC) would score the go-ahead goal using spectacular hand-eye coordination to bat a bouncing puck out of the air and past a helpless Chris Whitley (Oshawa, ON). Once more Lakehead would step up the
attack and again Brock?s defensive unit would be up to the task blocking shots and clear any rebound escaping Harpwood?s grasp. Brock would get another opportunity on the power play this time setting up Ryan Allen (Fort McMurray, AB) for the deflection in front the net extending Brock?s lead to the dressing room. Brock took the 3-1 lead to the intermission despite being outshot 18 ? 9 in the second period alone.
Lakehead would again jump to a quick start in the third as their power would free up Kris Hogg (Sicamous, BC) in the slot whom would be robbed by the left pad of Harpwood, but Hogg did not give up and tracked down his own rebound and scoring to make it a one goal game 3-2 only 1:29 into the third. Brock was ferocious on defense forcing the Thunderwovles to earn every inch in the offensive zone. Brock would take a penalty at 18:24 of the third, with one minute to go
Lakehead would pull their goaltender giving them a 6-4 advantage. Brock?s forward J.J. Martin (Thorold, ON) would block a cannon from the point find the rebound and score on the empty net to secure Brock a 4-2 win in game one of the OUA semi-final.
Brock will now travel up to Thunder Bay to play game 2 on Friday February 29th and if necessary game 3 on Saturday March 1st.
(Source: Shawn Whiteley, Brock Badgers, Sports Information)
McGill 4, UQTR 1
Mathieu Leclerc, a senior from Ste. Foy, Que., scored the game-winner and added an assist as the visiting McGill Redmen stunned No.5-ranked UQTR 4-1 in the opening game of the OUA East conference men's hockey final series, Wednesday.
The Redmen power play went 3-for-10 in a game that marked McGill's 100th lifetime playoff affair since 1910. It was only the team's fourth-ever post-season victory in 19 tries at Trois-Rivieres.
The Redmen, who have a 4-2-0 record against the Pats this season, now find themselves only one victory shy of a berth at the CIS national championship tournament. A win in Game 2 of the best-of-three series, slated for Friday night at McConnell Arena (7 p.m.), would give the Redmen their second conference title in three years and qualify McGill for berths at both the OUA Queen's Cup championship (March 8) and the CIS Nationals in Moncton, March 20-24
If a third contest is needed, it is scheduled for Sunday night back at Le Colisée in Trois-Rivieres.
Leclerc, a 6-foot-4, 210-pound forward, set up Montrealer Guillaume Doucet with a man-advantage at 5:36 of the opening period on a play that knocked Patriotes starting netminder Sylvain Michaud out of the game. Michaud, a sophomore from Repentigny, Que., who posted a 15-4-0 record in regular season play, took a hard Sam Bloom slapshot off his right collarbone a minute earlier, gave way to understudy Olivier Laliberté, a rookie from Granby, Que., who was saddled with the loss.
Leclerc then put the Redmen ahead 2-0 on another power play at 16:03 of the second.
McGill exploded twice in a span of 80 seconds early in the third stanza on markers by sophomore Benoit Arsenault of Rimouski, Que., and Bloom, both of whom notched their fourth goal in five post-season games.
Pats' rookie Alexandre Demers spoiled the shutout bid by Gatineau, Que., native Mathieu Poitras, when he deflected a shot from the point for a power play with just over seven minutes remaining.
The shots ended up even at 26-26 as Poitras made 25 saves to earn a school record fifth straight playoff victory. The five wins also tied the team record for most playoff wins in a year, set by Maurice Powers (5-2-3) in 1930-31 and matched by Poitras (5-3-0) in 2005-06.
REDMEN RAP: McGill improved to 30-12-0 overall, matching their school record win total in 2005-06 when they went 30-8-3"¦ The three-goal margin of victory was McGill's largest ever playoff win in Trois-Rivieres and matched the spread of their previous best at home, a 6-3 post-season conquest over the Pats at McConnell Arena, March 9, 2005.
(Source: Earl Zukerman, McGill Redmen, Sports Information)
The Brock University men's hockey team knocked off the No. 3 ranked Lakehead Thunderwolves by the score of 4-2 in Game One of the best of three OUA Semi-Finals. The Badgers, who were outshot 45-23 got spectacular goaltending from senior Matt Harpwood (Welland, Ont.) who recorded a game high 43 saves for the victory.
The first period of the OUA semi-finals was an even affair as both teams felt each other out. There was a lot of flow with both teams taking care of the defensive zone. It would be mid-way through the first period before Brock would be able to break down the Thunderwolves defense as Captain Ryan Del Monte (Mississauga, ON) would streak down the left wing, beating the defenseman to the net and with a nifty move would score the first goal of the series putting Brock ahead 1-0. Immediately after the goal Lakehead would up the tempo, forcing Brock to take penalties in order to contain their efforts. As a result, Lakehead?s power play would find themselves on a 5-3 which was very efficient in opening Mike Wehrstedt (Thunder Bay, ON) at the point to blast the puck past Harpwood tying the game 1-1.
In the second period of play Lakehead came out of the gates flying, they began early and continued throughout the period to pressure Harpwood. Harpwood was solid in net allowing Brock to bide their time until their power play got a chance to take the ice. Jonathan Labelle (Prevost, QC) would score the go-ahead goal using spectacular hand-eye coordination to bat a bouncing puck out of the air and past a helpless Chris Whitley (Oshawa, ON). Once more Lakehead would step up the
attack and again Brock?s defensive unit would be up to the task blocking shots and clear any rebound escaping Harpwood?s grasp. Brock would get another opportunity on the power play this time setting up Ryan Allen (Fort McMurray, AB) for the deflection in front the net extending Brock?s lead to the dressing room. Brock took the 3-1 lead to the intermission despite being outshot 18 ? 9 in the second period alone.
Lakehead would again jump to a quick start in the third as their power would free up Kris Hogg (Sicamous, BC) in the slot whom would be robbed by the left pad of Harpwood, but Hogg did not give up and tracked down his own rebound and scoring to make it a one goal game 3-2 only 1:29 into the third. Brock was ferocious on defense forcing the Thunderwovles to earn every inch in the offensive zone. Brock would take a penalty at 18:24 of the third, with one minute to go
Lakehead would pull their goaltender giving them a 6-4 advantage. Brock?s forward J.J. Martin (Thorold, ON) would block a cannon from the point find the rebound and score on the empty net to secure Brock a 4-2 win in game one of the OUA semi-final.
Brock will now travel up to Thunder Bay to play game 2 on Friday February 29th and if necessary game 3 on Saturday March 1st.
(Source: Shawn Whiteley, Brock Badgers, Sports Information)
McGill 4, UQTR 1
Mathieu Leclerc, a senior from Ste. Foy, Que., scored the game-winner and added an assist as the visiting McGill Redmen stunned No.5-ranked UQTR 4-1 in the opening game of the OUA East conference men's hockey final series, Wednesday.
The Redmen power play went 3-for-10 in a game that marked McGill's 100th lifetime playoff affair since 1910. It was only the team's fourth-ever post-season victory in 19 tries at Trois-Rivieres.
The Redmen, who have a 4-2-0 record against the Pats this season, now find themselves only one victory shy of a berth at the CIS national championship tournament. A win in Game 2 of the best-of-three series, slated for Friday night at McConnell Arena (7 p.m.), would give the Redmen their second conference title in three years and qualify McGill for berths at both the OUA Queen's Cup championship (March 8) and the CIS Nationals in Moncton, March 20-24
If a third contest is needed, it is scheduled for Sunday night back at Le Colisée in Trois-Rivieres.
Leclerc, a 6-foot-4, 210-pound forward, set up Montrealer Guillaume Doucet with a man-advantage at 5:36 of the opening period on a play that knocked Patriotes starting netminder Sylvain Michaud out of the game. Michaud, a sophomore from Repentigny, Que., who posted a 15-4-0 record in regular season play, took a hard Sam Bloom slapshot off his right collarbone a minute earlier, gave way to understudy Olivier Laliberté, a rookie from Granby, Que., who was saddled with the loss.
Leclerc then put the Redmen ahead 2-0 on another power play at 16:03 of the second.
McGill exploded twice in a span of 80 seconds early in the third stanza on markers by sophomore Benoit Arsenault of Rimouski, Que., and Bloom, both of whom notched their fourth goal in five post-season games.
Pats' rookie Alexandre Demers spoiled the shutout bid by Gatineau, Que., native Mathieu Poitras, when he deflected a shot from the point for a power play with just over seven minutes remaining.
The shots ended up even at 26-26 as Poitras made 25 saves to earn a school record fifth straight playoff victory. The five wins also tied the team record for most playoff wins in a year, set by Maurice Powers (5-2-3) in 1930-31 and matched by Poitras (5-3-0) in 2005-06.
REDMEN RAP: McGill improved to 30-12-0 overall, matching their school record win total in 2005-06 when they went 30-8-3"¦ The three-goal margin of victory was McGill's largest ever playoff win in Trois-Rivieres and matched the spread of their previous best at home, a 6-3 post-season conquest over the Pats at McConnell Arena, March 9, 2005.
(Source: Earl Zukerman, McGill Redmen, Sports Information)
