PLAYOFF HOCKEY ROUNDUP: Rams impress in Game 1 win over UQTR
Women’s Hockey
Brock Badgers (8) @ Laurier Golden Hawks (1)
WATERLOO, Ont. (February 15, 2012) - Tammy Freiburger of Wingham, Ont., scored a pair of goals, including the game-winner late in the second period, as the No. 1 Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks grabbed a 1-0 series lead over the Brock Badgers with a 4-2 win Wednesday night at the Waterloo Memorial Recreational Complex.
"She was a threat all-night long," said Head Coach Rick Osborne of the OUA's leading goal-scorer during the regular season. "She's been a great player all season long and she's going to be a great player in the playoffs."
In typical Laurier fashion, the Hawks came flying out of the gate, outshooting the Badgers 17-4 in the opening frame. However, after a couple of big saves from Brock netminder Emily Kelly of Port Elgin, Ont., the Hawks finally opened the scoring off a great individual effort from Devon Skeats of Whitby, Ont. Skeats picked up a loose puck inside her blueline and flew down the right wing before cutting to the middle of the ice and firing a shot back across the grain, beating Kelly high over her glove.
"The playoffs are my time to shine," said Skeats of her goal. "I was really happy to get the first goal for our team and get us off to a good start."
The purple and gold continued to pour on the pressure in the second period and Freiburger was rewarded with her first of the game five minutes in when she backhanded a loose puck past a helpless Kelly to increase the lead to two.
After Freiburger's late period tally, the Hawks seemed to be in control of the game heading to the third but just 14 seconds into the final frame, Jessica Fickel of Fort Erie, Ont., created a turnover before beating Laurier goalie Erika Thunder of Buffalo Point, Man., on just the Badgers 10th shot on net.
Brock would continue to stick around in the period and cut the lead to one after a Brittney Cabral (Hamilton) point shot ricocheted off the crossbar and past Thunder to make the score 3-2.
The goal seemed to kick-start the Hawks and they controlled the remainder of the play, never allowing Brock to get another quality chance on Thunder.
Katherine Shirriff of Carrying Place, Ont., rounded out the scoring with an empty-net goal in the final seconds of the game.
"They're a tough team, a scrappy team," said Osborne when asked about Brocks ability to get back into the game. "We've got some adjustments to make but well fix it for Saturday night."
Thunder, who was making her first career playoff start, finished the game with 11 saves to earn the victory while Kelly turned away 37 shots in the loss.
The two teams will now have two days off between games as Game 2 is set to go on Saturday night in St. Catharines where Laurier will have a chance to win the series. Puck drop is set for 7:15 p.m. at the Seymour-Hannah Centre.
Western Mustangs (6) @ Toronto Varsity Blues (3)
TORONTO, Ont. -- Western goaltender Kelly Campbell made 36 stops Wednesday night (Feb. 15) and the Mustangs notched four power play goals en route to a 4-1 win over the Toronto Varsity Blues in Game 1 of a best-of-three OUA quarter-final series.
Carly Rolph, Lindsay Gidomski, Marianne Filson and Michelle Saunders each scored power-play markers for the Mustangs. Gidomski added two assists for a three-point night. Campbell earned the game's first star for her work against the Varsity Blues, who outshot Western 37-28 on the night.
The Mustangs are back in action for Game 2 of this quarter-final series on Saturday (Feb. 18) at 7:00 p.m. at Thompson Arena.
Source: Mustangs Athletics
York Lions (5) @ Queen’s Gaels (4)
The York University Lions women's hockey team took a one-game lead in their best-of-three series with the No. 10 Queen's Gaels with a 4-3 victory at the Kingston Memorial Centre in Kingston, Ont., on Wednesday night (Feb. 15).
Tollis's goal came after the Gaels had climbed out of a 3-0 deficit to tie the game 3-3 early in the third period.
Fourth-year forward and team captain Chloe Milano (Maple, Ont.) and second-year forward Lisa Stathopulos (Toronto) each earned a goal and an assist in the game to lead the Lions in scoring. Gaels forward Morgan McHaffie (Guelph, Ont.), the OUA's regular season scoring leader, led all players with three points on the night, scoring one goal and adding two assists.
Also scoring for the Lions was Kim Ramcharan (Mississauga, Ont.), while Alana Smith (Aurora, Ont.) and Brittany McHaffie (Guelph, Ont.) responded for Queen's.
The game began with an early goal for the Lions on the power play. The Gaels had nearly killed off the two-minute York advantage but the Lions managed to keep traffic in front of Dodd-Moher, which allowed Milano to score her first goal of the playoffs at the 6:18 mark of the first period.
Minutes later, Smith brought the puck up ice and nearly found teammate Kristin Smith (Toronto) for the equalizer, but the Lions quickly recovered, got the puck into the Gaels zone and scored the second goal of the game off the stick of Ramcharan to give the Lions a two-goal lead at the mid-point of the opening period.
Queen's closed out the period with seven shots on goal compared to the Lions 11.
The second period started off in the Lions' favour thanks to multiple tremendous saves by rookie goaltender Megan Lee (Orillia, Ont.). The Lions added to their lead just 4:08 into the frame on the goal by Stathopulos.
The Gaels responded just over four minutes later after a shot from Alexandria Biglieri (Toronto) found its way through the goalie pads and Alana Smith managed to sneak behind Lee to knock the puck in the open cage.
The Gaels quickly struck again on a power play goal from Brittany McHaffie to cut the deficit to one and ended the period outshooting the Lions 17-10.
The Gaels evened the game in the third period on a goal by Morgan McHaffie, as she broke down the left wing late in her shift and fired a harmless wrist shot on goal that fooled Lee and went into the net. But that was as close as Queen's would get despite pulling their goaltender in the dying moments for the extra attacker.
Lee finished the game with 32 saves, while Dodd-Moher made 25.
The win marks the first in the post-season for the Lions under head coach Dan Church.
The series will now shift to Canlan Ice Sports on Friday night (Feb. 17) for Game 2, with puck drop scheduled for 7pm. A win for the Lions will clinch the series and move them into the OUA semifinals next week, while a win by the Gaels will move the series back to Kingston, Ont., for the finale on Sunday at 4:30pm.
Source: Lions Athletics
Queen’s Gaels (8) @ McGill Redmen (1)
MONTREAL -- Benoit Levesque, a sophomore from Vaudreuil, Que., capped a three-goal rally with the eventual game-winner at 6:43 of the second period as the No.2-ranked McGill men's hockey team skated to a 3-2 victory over Queen's in the opening game of the OUA East quarter-finals at McConnell Arena, Wednesday.
The Redmen appeared sluggish at times but had a 32-21 edge in shots. McGill went 1-for-2 on the power-play, while snuffing out all three man-advantage situations for Queen’s.
“Obviously we’re pleased to win the first game of the series but we can be a lot better than we were tonight and the boys know it,” said an unusually tight-lipped Kelly Nobes, head coach of the Redmen, who won his 200th career game as a CIS head coach and was presented with the official game puck afterwards by team captain Evan Vossen. Nobes now owns a combined 200-184-13 record with RMC, Laurier and McGill, including a 59-16-2 mark at McGill (10-2 in playoffs).
“I expect us to be much better on Friday in Kingston. That’s all I’ve got to say about our effort tonight.”
Jonathan Lawrance of Steinbach, Man., opened the scoring for the Gaels at 5:59 of the first period but McGill roared back with markers from defenceman Ryan McKiernan of White Plains, N.Y., at 15:33 and Christophe Longpre-Poirier of Longueuil, Que., at 17:44.
Five minutes after Levesque gave the Redmen a 3-1 lead early in the middle stanza, Gaels forward Jordan Mirwaldt of Winnipeg made it 3-2.
McGill netminder Hubert Morin, a senior from St. Georges de Beauce, Que., registered 19 saves for the win. Gaels veteran Riley Whitlock, a native of Calgary, made 29 saves and took the loss.
Game 2 is slated for the Kingston Memorial Centre on Friday at 7:20 p.m. The Redmen have won nine straight games at Queen’s since a 4-3 setback on Nov. 9, 2003. They are 3-1 lifetime in post-season play against the Gaels and haven’t lost a playoff encounter to them in over a century, dating back to an 8-2 decision in Ottawa on March 7, 1910.
If a rubber match is needed, it will be back at McConnell Arena on Sunday at 7 p.m.
Source: Redmen Athletics
Nipissing Lakers (3) @ Ottawa Gee-Gees (6)
With only four days to prepare for their first round matchup against the Nipissing Lakers, the uOttawa Gee-Gees took to their home ice in impressive fashion on Wednesday evening, downing the Lakers 5-2 in the opening game of the OUA East quarter finals.
However, Lakers forward Sam Hopewell had a very quick answer for the home town crowd just 57 seconds later. Hopewell scored in similar fashion to the Gee-Gees, pouncing on a point shot rebound that just trickled in past Gee-Gees starting Goaltender Russell Abbott (Mill Bay, B.C.).
First year Gee-Gee forward Alexandre Touchette (Gatineau, Que.) had a stand out performance for the home team, scoring a hat trick in his first playoff game in the garnet and grey livery. Touchette tallied the second, fourth, and fifth goals for the Gee-Gees, who, due to their depleted bench, were in need of a breakout performance.
“It is definitely hard when you’re down that many players,” explained Touchette. “But this is the playoffs; guys need to step up and I think we did a great job doing that.”
Gee-Gees head coach Réal Paiement was quick to credit forwards Guillaume Donovan (Gatineau, Que.) and Touchette for their strong play in the opening game.
“Both of them used their speed and quickness, and they battled very smart and hard,” explained Paiement. “They were able to get out from the battles with the puck and counter attack with their speed, which gave their defence problems.”
It was Stephen Blunden (Ottawa, Ont.) who notched the game winner for the Gee-Gees though, who came streaking in at the tail end of a Gee-Gee odd-man rush, picked up the bouncing puck and wired a wrist shot upstairs past Laker goaltender Daniel Spence.
The Lakers would manage to add a second goal late in the final frame, but it was too little too late for a Laker team that heads back to North Bay down early in the three game series.
Gee-Gee goaltender Abbott backstopped the Gee-Gees in solid fashion, turning aside 19 Laker shots on the evening. In one instance, Abbott was sprawled out and out of position on a wide open Laker, but miraculously made the stop on a sure goal.
“Russell was able to make the difference on a lot of turnovers that we gave up,” coach Paiment said. “He played a very solid game for us, which we needed.”
Game two will be played in North Bay on Friday, February 17, at Memorial Gardens. The Lakers, who boasted a 10-4 record at their home rink in the regular season, will be looking to use that home ice advantage to get them back in the short series.
“We know that it is going to be difficult in North Bay. It’s a different rink and a much different atmosphere,” said Paiement. “Nipissing has a very good team, so we are going to have to be close to perfect when we go there.”
Source: Gee-Gees Athletics
The Carleton Ravens men’s hockey team picked up right where it left off in the regular season, hammering the Toronto Varsity Blues 6-2 at the Ice House in game one of the best-of-three playoff series.
Ravens captain Brandon MacLean (Burlington, Ont.) opened the scoring six minutes into the first with a one-timer in the slot, and Ryan Berard (Niagara Falls, Ont.) made it 2-0 late in the period.
The Ravens stormed out in the second. Forward Andrew Glass (Wrentham, Mass.) streaked down the right wing around a Varsity Blues defender and sniped the puck top shelf on goaltender Garrett Sheehan (Cremona, Alta.) less than a minute into the frame to open up a three-goal lead.
But the Varsity Blues worked their way back. Tyler Liukkonen (Sault Ste. Marie, Ont.) connected just four seconds into a power play midway through the period. Cassidy Preston (North Bay, Ont.) narrowed the deficit to one just over a minute later.
But Jeff Hayes (Ottawa) restored Carleton’s two-goal lead late in the second with a power play goal, and the Ravens never looked back.
Hayes would add another goal 50 seconds into the third. Shane Bakker (Navan, Ont.) continued his goal-scoring tear when he found the back of the net midway through the third to cap off the victory.
The teams will meet again Saturday, Feb. 18 in Toronto for game two. Puck drop is set for 7:30 p.m.
Source: Ravens Athletics
Lakehead Thunderwolves (2) @ Guelph Gryphons (7)
The Guelph Gryphon’s men’s hockey team took on the Lakehead Thunderwolves tonight (Feb 15th) in Guelph for the first of the best of three OUA West Division play-offs. The Gryphons were trailing behind the Thunderwolves for much of the game until they turned it around with a major comeback finishing 5-4.
JT MacDonald (Niagara Falls, ON) led the Gryphons with a hat-trick, along with a goal from both Kris Belan (Florence, ON) and Justin Gvora (Thunder Bay, ON).
The game started out with a Gryphon advantage after an early goal was pocketed by MacDonald with an assist from Marco Franchini (Woodbridge, ON) at 2:29. Midway through the first the Thunderwolves tied up the game with a goal from Devin Welsh (Winnipeg, ON) after firing past Gryphon goalie Cody St. Jacques (Iroquois Falls, ON).
With only two minutes and thirty seconds left on the board the Thunderwolves took the lead with a goal from Thomas Frazee (Vancouver, BC). In the aftermath of their second goal, the Thunderwolves managed to work their way past Gryphon defence once more and Jake Carrick (Stoufville, ON) grabbed another before the whistle blew.
The Gryphons entered the second period knowing they had a lot of work to do. Lakehead put one more goal on the board at 6:47 after Ryan Magill (Thunder Bay, ON) managed to slip the puck behind St Jacques before he could respond.
Midway through the Gryphons had a 5-to-3 man advantage after penalties against Lakehead for roughing were called, but they couldn’t make use of it. Minutes later the Gryphons finally broke the dry spell with a great play set up by Matthew Lyall (Richmond Hill, ON) and Edward Gale (Keswick, ON) outside the Thunderwolves’ net on a power-play, giving Belan the perfect shot.
Only seconds later MacDonald had a breakaway down the left wing, fired into the top-shelf, and scored his second of the night. At the end of the second period the score sat at 4-3 for the Thunderwolves and the Gryphons were back in the game.
At only 1:23 in the third Guelph managed to tie up the score. Barrett Brook (Leduc, AB) got hold of the puck as he was just inside the blue line, and he passed to Gvora who was perfectly positioned outside the net. In one swift movement Gvora deflected the puck in, reigniting the Gryphon’s confidence.
At 6:29 the Gryphons finally overtook the Thunderwolves with a hat-trick from MacDonald leaving the score 5-4 in Guelph’s advantage. The last few minutes of the game were intense with the Thunderwolves determined to redeem the score, but they couldn’t break through Gryphon defence before the clock ran out.
With the first game of the best of three in the bag, the Gryphons are going on the road to Thunder Bay for game two on Feb. 17th against Lakehead. The game begins at 730pm. If game three is necessary it will be in Thunder Bay on Saturday (Feb. 18) at 7:30 p.m.
TORONTO - Greg Payne scored two goals and added a pair of assists as the Ryerson Rams defeated the No. 10 UQTR Patriotes 9-2 in game one of the best-of-three OUA East quarter-final.
Two more tallies in the middle of the first had the Rams holding a 4-0 lead at the end of the first period. However, with UQTR being the highest scoring team throughout the regular season, averaging 4.5 goals per game, a four-goal lead did not ensure a victory for the Ryerson.
But after a double-minor high-sticking penalty was taken by Maxime Robichaud at the beginning of the second, the Rams took full advantage by tallying back-to-back goals on the power-play to spread the lead to 6-0.
A short-handed marker by Payne (Thornhill, Ont.) after Ryerson killed off a 5-on-3 UQTR power-play iced the contest midway through the second.
Captain Andrew Buck (Newmarket, Ont.) tallied three assists, as 14 different Rams got on the scoresheet Wednesday night. Troy Passingham (Mississauga) stopped 36 of 38 shots in the victory. Ryerson went 3-for-9 with the power-play, while UQTR was 1-of-7.
"It was a 100 percent team effort," Rams head coach Graham Wise told the Ryerson Rams Network following his team's victory. "I'm really proud of our players."
The Rams take a 1-0 series lead, and will look to sweep the Patriotes this Saturday in Trois-Rivières, Que. on Saturday afternoon. The game will get underway at 2:00 p.m. Game three, if necessary, is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. Sunday night in Trois-Rivières.
"There is still lots of hockey left to play in this series," added Wise. "Trois-Rivières is a great team and we know they will bring their 'A'-game on the weekend. We have to get prepared and be ready to match them."
Source: Rams Athletics
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