CIS men's hockey Saturday roundup: UBC upsets No. 1 Alberta

The Rams [6-12-0] had a two-game win streak snapped, while the Lakers [9-6-3] are riding a three-game streak of their own.

"We weren't working hard enough," said captain Marcus Booth, "and you could tell that they wanted it more."

The team did not blame the long break for the loss today, citing that they played an exhibition game versus Lake Superior State on Wednesday.

"We played a great game on Wednesday even though we lost, but today, we thought, oh it's Nipissing and that they were going to let us win," said Head Coach Graham Wise.

Dan Watt proved to be the difference for the Lakers as he scored a hat trick, while leading scorer Andrew Marcoux was held pointless. Conor O'Donnell, Sam Hopewell, Lucas McKinley and Grant McGee also scored for Nipissing.

Returning from injury, Booth scored the team's second goal, and picked up two penalties. Alex Sharpe and Jesse Chidwick netted the teams other two goals. With an assist, left-wing Andrew Buck extended his point streak to three games [2G 4A], and leads the team with 17 points in 18 games.

Despite Booth's return, the Rams are still without starting goalie Paul Gibson, point-per-game forward Cory Konecny, Greg Payne and Ryan Milanovic. Payne and Konecny have been skating with the team and could be ready to go for the team's next game. Gibson has been nursing an undisclosed injury and is battling the flu.

Louie George turned aside 28 of 35 shots in place of the injured starter. George is 2-1 in his last three games.

With the loss, the Rams stay in ninth place in the OUA East, two points behind Toronto. Nipissing moves to fourth place.

Ryerson's next game is Thursday at 7:30 pm, against the Queen's Gaels at George Bell Arena.

Source: Ryerson Sports Info

After suffering an embarrassing 8-0 loss at the hands of the Carleton Ravens Friday night, the uOttawa men's hockey team bounced back with a stellar effort against the McGill Redmen, the number three team in the CIS, only to fall 3-2 in overtime.

After McGill took a 2-0 lead, the Gee-Gees dug in their heels to tie things up going into the third period thanks to goals by first-year forward Chris Smerek, Calgary Alta., his first of the year, and third-year forward Matt Methot, Ottawa, Ont., his 12th.

"Today we had to redeem ourselves," said Methot, "We knew we had to come out with a strong effort and I think it showed. Unfortunately we got the short end of the stick."

The Gee-Gees were also buoyed by an athletic performance from first-year goalie Harrison May, Vancouver, B.C., stopping 34 of 37 shots. While the Gee-Gees cut their penalties significantly from last game, it was May who shut the door on any opportunities for McGill to run up the score.

Off the ice the Gee-Gees were treated to the largest home crowd ever this season, much in part made up of the university's Jockey Club, who brought the atmosphere in the Sports Complex up to a fever pitch.

"We wouldn't have had the success tonight without them," said Methot.

Head coach Dave Leger was also pleased with how his team performed tonight.

"I was really proud of how the guys competed. We pinned a very good hockey team back on their heels."

The Gee-Gees next game will be on Friday, January 14th when they take on the UQTR Patriotes (12-5-0 OUA) at the Sports Complex.

Source: Ottawa Sports Info

The Thunderwolves peppered Windsor goaltender Jim Watt early with plenty of great chances, including a 2-on-1 with Caria and Victor Anilane, in which Anilane couldn't quite get a handle on the puck.

Brock McPherson put Lakehead in front at 14:00 of the first period with a nice forehand-to-backhand move. The assists were credited to Sergerie and Magill.

Windsor was kept off the board thanks to solid goaltending from Kyle Moir, and from Kalvin Sagert who had some key blocked shots.

It was much of the same in the second period for Lakehead, as it spent the majority of the second period in Windsor's end. Brock McPherson got things going at 2:08 of the second, with an unassisted marker that he put over Jim Watt's shoulder.

Caria, Anilane and Ryan McDonald were buzzing all period long and had plenty of chances. The physical play picked up in the second period, highlighted by Mitch Maunu absolutely flattening Lancer defenseman Scott Todd into the boards.

Windsor got on the board early in the third period to make things interesting when Mike Lombardi put one past Kyle Moir to cut Lakehead's lead in half. Ryan McDonald replied for Lakehead with his fifteenth goal of the season to restore Lakehead's two-goal lead. At 9:39 of the third, Brennan Menard broke in alone and fired a shot past Watt to put the Wolves up 4-1, with assists credited to Mitch Maunu and Andrew Wilkins.

Windsor got a late goal from Mark Thorburn to make it 4-2, but it wasn't enough, as Lakehead held on for the win.

The Thunderwolves are in London next weekend to take on the Western Ontario Mustangs.

Source: Lakehead Sports Info

Western's only goal was scored by Keaton Turkiewicz (Brantford, Ont.) while Laurier's Benjamin Skinner (Markham, Ont.) notched the Golden Hawk's two goals.

Both teams started the first period full tilt to set a fast paced tone for the match. Despite outshooting the Golden Hawks 12-5, Western could not capitalize on two powerplay opportunities as the game remained scoreless heading into the second.

Western scored the first goal of the contest on the man-advantage as the powerplay unit worked the puck around in Laurier territory. Turkiewicz gained control of the puck inside the blueline and walked down low, firing a shot past goaltender Ryan Daniels who was screened on the play.

Mustangs netminder Josh Unice (Holland, Ohio) turned aside a Golden Hawks attacker on a breakaway opportunity in the final minute of the second period to preserve Western's 1-0 lead after 40 minutes of play.

Laurier started the final period looking to even up the scoring as Skinner found an opening and beat Unice to tie the game at one less than two minutes in.

The Mustangs had a goal called off at 15:18 as the net came loose. Continuous back-and-forth play held the game tied at 1 for majority of the third period until Skinner added Laurier's second goal at 17:56. The Mustangs outshot Laurier 32-23 but could not add a tying goal while going 1/7 on powerplay opportunities.

Western plays host to Lakehead for a double-header weekend with two 7:30 p.m. games on Jan. 14 and Jan. 15.

Source: Western Sports Info

Jason Wagar, Chris Durand, Derek Hulak and Kyle Bortis all notched goals for the Huskies before the 10:56 mark of the first period. With the win the Huskies sweep the weekend home-and-home series with the Cougars. A night earlier in Regina, the Huskies won 3-1.

The Huskies now move into sole possession of second place with a 10-6 record, two points ahead of the Universities of Manitoba and Calgary, who both didn't play Saturday night. Regina drops to 6-12 after the loss.

Fifth-year Wagar opened the scoring at 3:35, and just over two minutes later Durand netted the Huskies second goal at 5:54. Huskie newcomer Derek Hulak potted his first CIS goal at 8:24 on the power play when he sent the puck top shelf over Cougar netminder Adam Ward's stick. Kyle Bortis made the game 4-0 at 10:56.

Cougar Carter Selinger got the Cougars on the board with just 17 seconds left in the first to make the game 4-1 when he beat David Reekie five-hole.

Saskatchewan added two power play goals in the second period. Bortis netted his second of the game at 12:48, followed by Matthew Delahey's first CIS goal at 19:57.

Neil Kodman scored Regina's second goal just eight seconds into the third period.

Ward stopped 36 shots for the Cougars, while Reekie made 24 saves for the Huskies at the other end of the ice. Regina was 0-2 with the man advantage, while the Huskies were 3 for 9 on the power play.

The Huskies remain at home to host the University of Manitoba Bisons next weekend, while the Cougars get a week of rest with a bye.

Source: Saskatchewan Sports Info