February 17, 2009
OUA PLAYOFF PUSH: MEN'S HOCKEY
HAMILTON, Ont. – The second season is about to commence in Ontario University Athletics (OUA) men's hockey.
Eight teams, including three nationally-ranked clubs, will battle in the opening round of the OUA playoffs to determine who will advance to the quarter-finals next week.
The No. 9 Waterloo Warriors (18-7-0-3) will face the No. 10 Lakehead Thunderwolves (18-8-0-2) in a best-of-three series beginning on Wednesday in Thunder Bay, Ont.
The Warriors have been a dangerous club with goaltender Pier-Olivier Pelletier (Saint-Louis-du-Ha! Ha!, Que.) between the pipes. Pelletier, a second-round draft choice of the Phoenix Coyotes in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft, has a 7-3-0-1 and a .937 save percentage since joining the team in mid-season. He also has three shutouts to his credit. Two of his victories came at Lakehead at the end of January. The Warriors defeated the Thunderwolves in three of four regular season meetings.
Lakehead left winger Brock McPherson (Brampton, Ont.) was tied for fourth in OUA goal scoring during the regular season with 18. The Thunderwolves have given up the second-least amount of goals during the OUA in 2008-09, allowing just 69 to slip through the pipes.
Montreal will be the site for two Wednesday games, as the Ottawa Gee-Gees (12-11-3-2) visit the McGill Redmen (18-8-1-1) while the Concordia Stingers (15-9-0-4) host the Carleton Ravens (13-11-3-1).
The Redmen have been red hot to end the regular season, winning eight of their last nine regular season games. Ironically, McGill's only loss during that stretch came in the season finale against the Gee-Gees on Feb. 14. Ottawa and McGill split the regular season series between these two schools at two wins apiece.
Rookie centre Alexandre Picard-Hooper (Boucherville, Que.) led the Redmen with 36 points this season. Right winger Sam Bloom (Toronto, Ont.) and left winger Marko Kovacevic (Belgrade, Serbia) finished the regular season tied for the team lead with 14 goals each.
Gee-Gees left winger Matthieu Methot (Ottawa, Ont.) tied McPherson for fourth in goal scoring during the regular season with 18, best among all OUA rookies. Teammate Yanick Charron (Hull, Que.) was tied for second in OUA with 31 assists.
The Ravens and Stingers split their four-game regular season series in 2008-09, but three of those games were decided by overtime or a shootout.
Carleton left winger Ryan Berard (Niagara Falls, Ont.) is dangerous with the man-advantage, scoring nine power play goals during the regular season. Teammate Brandon MacLean (Burlington, Ont.) is also dangerous on the penalty kill, with an OUA-leading three shorthanded goals.
The Stingers are led by Nicolas D'Aoust (Lorraine, Que.) who led the team with 15 goals and 20 assists for 35 points.
The No. 6 Western Mustangs (19-7-2-0) begin their post-season on Thursday against the Guelph Gryphons (14-12-1-1). Both teams split their only two meetings of the season back in November.
The Mustangs were third in goals during the OUA regular season with 109. Rookie left winger Aaron Snow (Windsor, Ont.) led Western with 14 goals. Right winger Michael Nelson (Stratford, Ont.) scored 10 goals and assisted on 16 others to lead the Gryphons offence.
Division winners No. 3 Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks, No. 5 UQTR Patriotes, Toronto Varsity Blues and York Lions receive a bye in the first round and will wait to learn their respective opponents in the OUA quarter-finals.
OUA MEN'S HOCKEY PLAYOFFS
Wed., Feb. 18
7 p.m. - Ottawa @ McGill (Game 1)
7:30 p.m. - Waterloo @ Lakehead (Game 1)
8 p.m. - Carleton @ Concordia (Game 1)
Thurs., Feb. 19
7:30 p.m. - Guelph @ Western (Game 1)
Fri., Feb. 20
7 p.m. - Concordia @ Carleton (Game 2)
7 p.m. - McGill @ Ottawa (Game 2)
Sat., Feb. 21
7:30 p.m. - Western @ Guelph (Game 2)
7:30 p.m. - Lakehead @ Waterloo (Game 2)
Sun., Feb. 22
3 p.m. - Ottawa @ McGill (Game 3, if necessary)
4 p.m. - Carleton @ Concordia (Game 3, if necessary)
7:30 p.m. - Guelph @ Western (Game 3, if necessary)
7:30 p.m. - Lakehead @ Waterloo (Game 3, if necessary)
– OUA –
ABOUT ONTARIO UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS
Ontario University Athletics (OUA) and its 19 member institutions are developing Champions For Life. Giving 9,000 student-athletes the opportunity to excel academically and on the playing field, while preparing for life after university. For more information, visit OUA.ca.
Photo Credit: Steve Brooks
Eight teams, including three nationally-ranked clubs, will battle in the opening round of the OUA playoffs to determine who will advance to the quarter-finals next week.
The No. 9 Waterloo Warriors (18-7-0-3) will face the No. 10 Lakehead Thunderwolves (18-8-0-2) in a best-of-three series beginning on Wednesday in Thunder Bay, Ont.
The Warriors have been a dangerous club with goaltender Pier-Olivier Pelletier (Saint-Louis-du-Ha! Ha!, Que.) between the pipes. Pelletier, a second-round draft choice of the Phoenix Coyotes in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft, has a 7-3-0-1 and a .937 save percentage since joining the team in mid-season. He also has three shutouts to his credit. Two of his victories came at Lakehead at the end of January. The Warriors defeated the Thunderwolves in three of four regular season meetings.
Lakehead left winger Brock McPherson (Brampton, Ont.) was tied for fourth in OUA goal scoring during the regular season with 18. The Thunderwolves have given up the second-least amount of goals during the OUA in 2008-09, allowing just 69 to slip through the pipes.
Montreal will be the site for two Wednesday games, as the Ottawa Gee-Gees (12-11-3-2) visit the McGill Redmen (18-8-1-1) while the Concordia Stingers (15-9-0-4) host the Carleton Ravens (13-11-3-1).
The Redmen have been red hot to end the regular season, winning eight of their last nine regular season games. Ironically, McGill's only loss during that stretch came in the season finale against the Gee-Gees on Feb. 14. Ottawa and McGill split the regular season series between these two schools at two wins apiece.
Rookie centre Alexandre Picard-Hooper (Boucherville, Que.) led the Redmen with 36 points this season. Right winger Sam Bloom (Toronto, Ont.) and left winger Marko Kovacevic (Belgrade, Serbia) finished the regular season tied for the team lead with 14 goals each.
Gee-Gees left winger Matthieu Methot (Ottawa, Ont.) tied McPherson for fourth in goal scoring during the regular season with 18, best among all OUA rookies. Teammate Yanick Charron (Hull, Que.) was tied for second in OUA with 31 assists.
The Ravens and Stingers split their four-game regular season series in 2008-09, but three of those games were decided by overtime or a shootout.
Carleton left winger Ryan Berard (Niagara Falls, Ont.) is dangerous with the man-advantage, scoring nine power play goals during the regular season. Teammate Brandon MacLean (Burlington, Ont.) is also dangerous on the penalty kill, with an OUA-leading three shorthanded goals.
The Stingers are led by Nicolas D'Aoust (Lorraine, Que.) who led the team with 15 goals and 20 assists for 35 points.
The No. 6 Western Mustangs (19-7-2-0) begin their post-season on Thursday against the Guelph Gryphons (14-12-1-1). Both teams split their only two meetings of the season back in November.
The Mustangs were third in goals during the OUA regular season with 109. Rookie left winger Aaron Snow (Windsor, Ont.) led Western with 14 goals. Right winger Michael Nelson (Stratford, Ont.) scored 10 goals and assisted on 16 others to lead the Gryphons offence.
Division winners No. 3 Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks, No. 5 UQTR Patriotes, Toronto Varsity Blues and York Lions receive a bye in the first round and will wait to learn their respective opponents in the OUA quarter-finals.
OUA MEN'S HOCKEY PLAYOFFS
Wed., Feb. 18
7 p.m. - Ottawa @ McGill (Game 1)
7:30 p.m. - Waterloo @ Lakehead (Game 1)
8 p.m. - Carleton @ Concordia (Game 1)
Thurs., Feb. 19
7:30 p.m. - Guelph @ Western (Game 1)
Fri., Feb. 20
7 p.m. - Concordia @ Carleton (Game 2)
7 p.m. - McGill @ Ottawa (Game 2)
Sat., Feb. 21
7:30 p.m. - Western @ Guelph (Game 2)
7:30 p.m. - Lakehead @ Waterloo (Game 2)
Sun., Feb. 22
3 p.m. - Ottawa @ McGill (Game 3, if necessary)
4 p.m. - Carleton @ Concordia (Game 3, if necessary)
7:30 p.m. - Guelph @ Western (Game 3, if necessary)
7:30 p.m. - Lakehead @ Waterloo (Game 3, if necessary)
– OUA –
ABOUT ONTARIO UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS
Ontario University Athletics (OUA) and its 19 member institutions are developing Champions For Life. Giving 9,000 student-athletes the opportunity to excel academically and on the playing field, while preparing for life after university. For more information, visit OUA.ca.
Photo Credit: Steve Brooks
