AROUND OUA: Golden Hawks rally to beat Queen's in a shootout
WATERLOO, Ont. (February 7, 2016) – The Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks men’s hockey team gave their graduating seniors a winning sendoff in their final regular season home game as they rallied to defeat the Queen’s Gaels 4-3 in a shootout on Sunday night at the Waterloo Recreation Complex.
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Golden Hawks rally to beat Queen's in a shootout
WATERLOO, Ont. (February 7, 2016) – The Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks men's hockey team gave their graduating seniors a winning sendoff in their final regular season home game as they rallied to defeat the Queen's Gaels 4-3 in a shootout on Sunday night at the Waterloo Recreation Complex.
On a night when the Hawks honoured their six graduating players, it was one of those recognized, captain Greg Cerilli (Barrie, Ont.), who scored the winning goal in the shootout to help the purple and gold snap their two-game losing skid.
Laurier forced the game into overtime thanks to a strong third period that saw them rally from a 3-1 deficit thanks to goals from Matt Dupont of Milton, Ont., and Mac Clutsam of Flamborough, Ont.
The Hawks also got a second period tally from Derek Schoenmakers of Kitchener, Ont., his team-leading 14th of the season, one off his career-high while Erik Pushka of Dugald, Man., added two assists for the purple and gold.
Ryan Bloom of Calgary, Alex Stothart of Ottawa, and Darcy Greenaway of Wilton, Ont., replied for Queen's.
In goal, Vinny Merante of Niagara Falls, Ont., won for the third time in four starts as he made 38 saves in regulation and overtime before stopping two of the three shooters he faced in the shootout.
Queen's backup goalie Jacob Brennan of Halifax, N.S., making his first start since November 20, took the loss for the Gaels as he made 51 saves.
The victory keeps Laurier's slight hopes of earning home ice advantage in the first round of the playoffs alive as their record now sits at 13-13-0 on the year, good for 26 points. The Hawks trail Waterloo and Windsor, who are tied for fourth in the division, by three points, meaning Laurier will need all four points against Lakehead next weekend while hoping both Waterloo and Windsor fail to pick up any points.
The Hawks will close out the regular season in Thunder Bay, Ont., next weekend as they face the Thunderwolves for a doubleheader. The first game goes Friday night, February 12, with puck drop set for 7 p.m.
NOTES: Seniors Cerilli, Ryan Lopes (Brampton, Ont.), Matt Brown (Calgary), Taylor D'Andrea (Hamilton), Matt Provost (Oakville, Ont.) and Mike Webley (Stittsville, Ont.) were all recognized for their contributions to the team prior to the game
Source: Laurier Golden Hawks
