CIS men's hockey Saturday roundup: Tigers steal overtime shootout win over No. 2 V-Reds

MONTREAL - Fifth year captain Matt Methot took the Gee-Gees on his back in one of the most important games of the season, scoring two third period goals and contributing to the team’s outstanding defence against a high-flying Concordia team. Methot scored the game winner just forty seconds into the final frame, lifting the Gee-Gees into a tie for fourth place in the log-jammed OUA East.

“They were pushing at the end, but we stayed under control and managed the game well,” noted Réal Paiement, pleased with the leadership of his top line and the team’s physical play throughout the game.

“Guys went through their checks, played hard along the boards and took hits to make plays. It was a good physical effort and that’s what you need to get in the playoffs, and to win in the playoffs.” Coach Paiement also noted the work of his centremen, Blain and Touchette, noting that each logged a lot of minutes and were dependable in the faceoff circle.

Although Methot’s third period heroics clinched the win, much of the battle was won in the second period, where the Gee-Gees recovered from giving up the first goal of the game and took a 3-1 lead.

Concordia had anopportunity for back to back power plays to open the period but Ottawa’s penalty kill unit swarmed the Stingers all over the ice, eventually leading to a turnover which allowed Donovan to break down the left wing and open the scoring for the Gee-Gees. 

Moments later, Stephen Blunden picked up the puck coming out of the penalty box and defenseman Dominic Jalbert jumped into the rush, crashing the net and providing a screen for Blunden’s twelfth goal of the season.

The Gee-Gees did a nice job of clearing the rebounds from in front of Russell Abbott and seemed to win the majority of the puck battles, playing aggressively but disciplined. Abbott was impressive, stopping 28 shots including three clear breakaways and weathering the second period storm to allow Ottawa to build a lead.

Still in the second, Concordia nearly had too many men on a line change which threw off their rhythm enough for Methot to thread a pass to Luc Blain in front of the Stinger net. Blain showed nice hands by evading the goalie’s poke check before sliding the puck into the net.

Concordia made a goaltending change to start the third period and Methot beat him early, making a nice move to break in alone for the fourth Gee-Gee goal. Methot added his second goal of the game by intercepting a pass on his own blue line and using his long strides to once again break into the Stinger zone untouched.

The victory gives the Gee-Gees two much needed points as they will face the top two teams in the league, McGill and UQTR, for their final regular season games next Friday and Saturday nights at the uOttawa Minto Sports Complex.

Source: Ottawa Sports Info

HALIFAX – For the second time in a week, the Dalhousie Tigers relied on goaltender Wendell Vye to keep them in the game against the University of New Brunswick men's hockey team while their power play accounted for their offence through three periods. Only this time it was Dal winning 3-2 in overtime Saturday night, and it came thanks to the sixteenth man in the shootout – Brett Theberge.

It was a big game for both teams for different reasons. First place UNB has yet to secure a first-round AUS playoff bye while Dalhousie is desperately trying to catch StFX for the last playoff spot. The first eight minutes of careful play in the game didn't see a shot recorded on net as both teams felt each out in very much of a playoff mode. The only goal in the period was a beauty at 15:31, as UNB rookie Shayne Wiebe (Brandon, MB) first circled to his right to get past several Tigers players and then quickly circled back to his left to drive across the net and deke out goaltender Wendell Vye (Moncton, NB). Shots were only 7-4 for UNB in the period.

UNB extended their lead early in the second period at the one minute mark on the power play when Luke Gallant (Bedford, NS) from the right point slap-passed the puck to fellow d-man Jonathan Harty (Oromocto, NB) who had pinched down to the left circle, and Harty quickly fired across the slot to captain Kyle Bailey (Ponoka, AB) for the redirect goal. Late in the period UNB forward Antoine Houde-Caron (Trois-Rivières, QC) and Dal d-man David MacDonald (Baddeck, NS) had several physical battles on one shift and the V-Reds player was given a high sticking penalty. On the power play Pascal Amyot (Québec, QC) fired a point shot that Brendon MacDonald (Sydney, NS) redirected past Travis Fullerton (Riverview, NB) with just 0.9 seconds left on the clock. UNB outshot Dal 9-4 in the period.

Fullerton was called for delay of game 18 seconds into the third period, and that penalty would prove costly as well with Jordan Villeneuve-Gagné (L'Ancienne-Lorette, QC) scoring late in the power play at 2:05 to tie the game. Despite that goal the third period was all UNB, and Vye, as the V-Reds outshot the Tigers 21-2.

The ten minute overtime settled nothing (with UNB outshooting Dal 39-17 over the total 70 minutes), so the teams went to the sudden victory shootout. The teams were at their eighth shooters when Brett Theberge (Sundridge, ON) scored for Dal while Vye made a glove save on Harty to get the win.

UNB is now 0-for-3 in overtime shootouts on the season, with all three of their goaltenders each taking a loss. For Fullerton, it was his first loss this season in ten starts in the UNB nets.

The one point for the overtime loss keeps the V-Reds in first place in the AUS, just one point ahead of Saint Mary's. UNB has a game in hand on SMU and will make that up when they host cross-campus rival St. Thomas Wednesday in the annual Mark Jeffrey Memorial game.

Source: UNB Sports Info

The Carleton Ravens men’s hockey team’s attempt at a comeback fell short on Saturday night as they fell 4-3 to the No. 1 nationally ranked McGill Redmen.

After falling 4-2 to the Ravens last weekend, the Redmen came out flying and opened up a 3-0 lead by the end of the first period. Then, they quelled a determined Ravens third-period comeback attempt to escape with the win.

Jean-Francois Boisvert (Mirabel, Que.), Alex Picard-Hooper (Boucherville, Que.) and Francis Verreault-Paul (Mashteuiatsh, Que.) put the Ravens on their heels with their first-period goals.

Michael Folkes (Burlington, Ont.) put the Ravens on the board early in the second, but Evan Vossen (Swift Current, Sask.) restored McGill’s commanding lead later in the period.

But the Ravens got rolling in the third. Captain Brandon MacLean (Burlington, Ont.) sniped a power play marker early in the period and then Tim Billingsley (Ottawa) brought the Ravens within one with another goal on the man-advantage.

The Ravens pressed hard for the equalizer, outshooting the Redmen 14-4 in the final period of play. But they came up short against the first-place Redmen and now find themselves in sixth place in the tight race for a playoff spot in the OUA East.

The Ravens will look to clinch a playoff berth next weekend when they close out their regular season with home games against UQTR and Concordia.

Source: Carleton Sports Info

GUELPH, Ont. – Justin Gvora’s, game-winning goal 2:39 into overtime lifted the Guelph Gryphon men’s hockey team to a 3-2 triumph over the Laurier Golden Hawks on Saturday night at the Gryphon Centre.

Justin Gvora (Thunder Bay, Ont.) put away the game winner and tallied a pair of assists, while Nathan Martine (Guelph, Ont.) and Barrett Brook (Leduc, AB) tallied a pair of goals each.

The game was a high-intensity, aggressive affair between the rival teams. The win moves Guelph to 9-12-5 while the loss drops Laurier to 8-16-2.

Cody St. Jacques (Iroquois Falls, Ont.) got the start between the pipes for the Gryphons making 22 saves on 24 shots.

Laurier opened the scoring with a power play goal from Mitchell Good at the seven-minute mark of the game. The first period ended with the Gryphons outshooting Laurier 17-8 in the period. 

Early in the second period, Guelph went on the powerplay and after some great puck movement Justin Gvora slid the puck out to Nathan Martine on the point who wired a shot at the net knotting the game at one.  Zach Lillie (Bracebridge, Ont) would also pick up an assist on the powerplay goal.

Seven minutes into the second period Guelph would pull ahead on a goal by Barrett Brook. After a 3-on-2 gave Gvora an opportunity to fire a shot on net the rebound would land directly on the stick of Brook who didn’t hesitate to snipe it top shelf past the goalie.

Midway through the second period, tensions rose in front of the Gryphon net as a fight ensued and in total three 10-minute misconducts were dished out.  The Gryphons would take the 2-1 lead into the third period.

The third period was full of high quality opportunities at both ends of the rink.  Guelph out-muscled the Hawks throughout the period with their continued aggressive play, but much to the dismay of the Gryphons and their fans, the Golden Hawks would score an equalizer 13-minutes into the third to send the game to overtime.

Half of the overtime period ran out before Justin Gvora capitalized on a giveaway by a Golden Hawk.  After picking up the loose puck Gvora skated in and wired one off the inside of the crossbar and past the sprawling Laurier goaltender.  Over 100 fans and the Gryphon team erupted at the Gryphon Centre celebrating the overtime goal.

The Gryphons are back home at the Gryphon Centre this Thursday (February 9) against the Windsor Lancers for graduating seniors night.  Puck drops at 7:30pm.

Source: Guelph Sports Info

University of Calgary Dinos’ goaltender Dustin Butler recorded a shutout in a 3-0 victory over the University of Saskatchewan Huskies Saturday night in Saskatoon’s Rutherford Rink.

Butler was spectacular in the win turning away all 20 shots he faced including a penalty shot awarded to Michael Kaye at 12:56 in the third period.

With the win, Calgary improves to 14-11-1 and takes sole possession of fourth place in the Canada West standings. The Huskies drop to third in the standings at 15-6-3 and sit on a four game losing skid. A night earlier, the Dinos won 3-2 in overtime.

Both Saskatchewan and Calgary are fighting for home ice advantage in the postseason. The top two teams in the conference receive a bye through the first round of playoffs, while third and fourth earn hosting rights in the quarter-finals.

A Manitoba sweep over the UBC Thunderbirds landed them in sole possession of first place at 17-5-2 and 36 points. The Alberta Golden Bears (16-6-2), who were on a bye this weekend, sit in second with 34.

Kevin King opened the scoring at 4:53 in the first period. Walker Wintoneak added the second goal just 1:53 into the second period on a power play. Calgary had the man advantage after Garrett Thiessen was caught for boarding. Teegan Moore added an empty net goal at 19:56.

Huskie netminder Ryan Holfeld made 25 saves in the loss. Calgary capitalized on 1-of-2 opportunities on the power play, while the Huskies were 0-for-5.

The Huskies travel to Vancouver to face the UBC Thunderbirds next weekend, while the Dinos host the Manitoba Bisons in their final games of the season.

Source: Saskatchewan Sports Info

The University of Manitoba Bisons took a page out of the Philadelphia Flyers’ book Saturday, February 4 evening, playing the NHL squad’s victory song, Mac Miller’s “Knock Knock”, in the dressing room after the game.  And it was well deserved.

The No. 7-ranked Bisons put up four straight goals in a miraculous third period comeback, to beat the University of British Columbia Thunderbirds 5-3 in regulation.  The game’s tying goal and game-winner came off the stick of Manitoba’s leading scorer, Blair Macaulay.

With the win, the Bisons now sit in first place in the Canada West division, two points ahead of the Alberta Pandas. Manitoba’s record improves to 17-5-2 and UBC’s falls to 12-9-3.

Manitoba’s goals were notched by Tyler Schmidt, Brendan Rowinski, Blair Macaulay (2), and Chris Benias.  Net minder Joe Caligiuri made 14 saves in the first two periods, and Mark Friesen made seven in the third.

The T-Birds’ goals were scored by Max Grassi (2) and Jordan Inglis, and their goaltender Jordan White made 24 saves on the evening.

“Our guys showed tremendous amount of resolve against some adversity,” said Bisons head coach Mike Sirant on the win. “The key is they stayed composed, they stayed focused on what they needed to do, and they did it as a team.  We did it as a team, and we believed we could do it.”

“Blair Macaulay is the premier forward in our conference right now, he’s a game-breaker.  He can change the outcome of a game in a shift.”

While Macaulay was responsible for two pivotal goals for the Bisons tonight, he was humble in giving a lot of credit to his teammates who fed him the passes.

“Both games were pretty similar with us coming back, we showed a lot of character,” Macaulay said.  “I thought we played good all night; they’re a tough team to play against.  We knew if we stuck with it, things would open up and we’d get the opportunity, and we were fortunate enough to capitalize.”

Both teams looked strong defensively in the opening half of the first period, only allowing for a few shots on goal each.  Leading scorer for the Thunderbirds Max Grassi was first to get on the board, though, as he fired a shot point blank in front of the net that just barely trickled through Bisons’ net minder Joe Caligiuri’s five-hole, putting UBC up 1-0.

Despite a pair of power plays for Manitoba, and outshooting UBC 12-5, Max Grassi struck again in the dying the seconds of the first period, beating Caligiuri and giving the Thunderbirds a 2-0 lead heading into the first intermission.

Down by a pair, just like they were the night before, the Bisons knew they’d have to have a good second period in order to get back in the game.  It took over half the period, but when Manitoba finally scored they did it in style, as Tyler Dittmer and Ian Duval played a game of tic-tac-toe, getting the puck to Tyler Schmidt who scored his first of the season, and brought the score to 2-1 UBC.

Any momentum the Herd might have gained off the highlight-reel goal was quickly snuffed out when Jared Walker was served a minor and 10-minute misconduct for a hit to the head.  The T-Birds’ Jordan Inglis made them pay, with a greasy goal right in front of Caligiuri, and it was 3-1 UBC with time ticking down in the second.

The Bisons enjoyed a 5-on-3 advantage for about 20 seconds before the period was through, but still couldn’t capitalize on the power play, now 0/4, and were down by a pair heading into the third period.

As the third got underway, Mark Friesen replaced Joe Caligiuri in net for the Bisons.

After failing to capitalize on their fifth power play of the game, a faceoff to the left of Thunderbirds goaltender Jordan White was just where Manitoba’s Brendan Rowinski needed it to be, as he sniped one home right off the faceoff, bring the Bisons to within just one.

Mere minutes after Rowinski’s goal, Manitoba’s leading scorer Blair Macaulay sniped one of his own after streaking down the right wing, and just like that it was 3-3 in the Max Bell Centre with under seven minutes to play in the game.

Proving that he’s the Bisons’ leading scorer for a reason, Blair Macaulay tallied another on the power play, off a great heads-up pass from Tyler Dittmer.  4-3 Manitoba.

Not content with just a one-goal lead, the Bisons’ Chris Benias put another in the cage 50 seconds later, and four straight for Manitoba made it 5-3 with minutes to go in the final stanza.

The T-Birds pulled their goalie in the final minute, but the two-goal deficit was too much to overcome and the Bisons took a 5-3 victory.

The Manitoba Bisons play next on Friday and Saturday, February 10/11 in Calgary against the Dinos.

Source: Manitoba Sports Info