(PHOTO BY ANDREW DOBROWOLSKYJ)

 

MONTREAL - Freshman Kim Ton-That of Vaudreuil-Dorion, Que., scored twice in her official university debut as the No.1-ranked McGill Martlets blanked Concordia 5-0 in their CIS women's hockey season opener at McConnell Arena, Friday.

 

It extended McGill's win streak to 55 consecutive games against CIS opponents, dating back to a 2-1 post-overtime shootout loss to Alberta on Dec. 30, 2007.  In head-to-head competition with the Stingers, McGill has won 29 in a row since losing a 2-1 decision at Concordia on Feb. 5, 2006.

 

"We're really happy the way things went," said head coach Amey Doyle, who has taken over the coaching reins for the season as Peter Smith is on sabbatical to coach with the Canadian Olympic team. "We we're able to roll all four lines throughout the game and they really clicked."

 

Gabrielle Smith, a 5-foot-8 music senior from Ottawa, made 13 saves to earn the shutout for the Martlets, who have captured the CIS national crown in each of the last two seasons. It was her second career goose-egg -- both were identical 5-0 routs over the Stingers -- in 10 games played as a member of the Martlets.

 

McGill peppered Concordia netminder Audrey Doyon-Lessard with 51 shots, including a team record 30-4 margin in the first period, but only led 1-0 on Ton-That's power-play marker at 19:33.

 

Ton-That, a 5-foot-3 speed demon, made it 2-0 on a penalty shot at 4:10 of the middle period after being hauled down from behind by defenceman Meghan George while on a breakaway.

 

"Ton-That sure is an exciting player to watch," said Doyle. "She has a reputation for scoring goals and that's what she did tonight."

 

Six minutes later, team captain Vanessa Davidson of Kirkland, Que., put the Martlets ahead 3-0, scoring a shorthanded marker on Doyon-Lessard with a nifty deke, on another breakaway.

 

Rebecca Martindale, a fifth-year senior from Kingston, Ont., put the game out of reach at 13:59 of the second stanza and sophomore Lainie Smith fired a blistering wrist shot midway through the final period to round out the scoring.

 

Concordia (0-1) plays next on Oct. 16 when they visit the Montreal Carabins, a new expansion team in the Quebec conference.

 

McGill (1-0), which is chasing Alberta's CIS win streak record of 67 games, will get their next shot at extending their mark to 56 games when they host the Ottawa Gee-Gees on Oct. 17.

 

SCORING SUMMARY

Concordia 0 At McGill 5

Oct 9, 2009 - McConnell Arena (@ McGill)

1st Period-

1, McGill, Kim Ton-That 1 (Lisa Zane, Carly Hill), 19:33 (pp).

 

Penalties-

Feehan Con (slashing (a22)), 11:23;

George Con (tripping), 12:05;

George Con (hooking), 18:24.

 

2nd Period-

2, McGill, Kim Ton-That 2   4:10 (penalty shot).

3, McGill, Vanessa Davidson 1   10:08 (sh).

4, McGill, Rebecca Martindale 1 (Jordanna Peroff), 13:59.

 

Penalties-

Cecere Mcg (bodychecking (a39)), 1:02;

George Con (tripping), 4:10;

Rabinovich Mcg (tripping), 9:01;

Wells Mcg (elbowing (a34)), 10:27.

 

3rd Period-

5, McGill, Lainie Smith 1 (Lisa Zane), 11:42.

 

Penalties-

Soberano Mcg (tripping), 3:40;

Desjardins Con (bodychecking (a39)), 19:15.

 

SCORING BY PERIOD

Concordia 0-0-0 -- 0

McGill 1-3-1 -- 5

 

SHOTS BY PERIOD

Concordia 4-5-4 --13.

McGill 30-9-12 --51.

 

Power Play Opportunities-

Concordia 0 of 4 (plus one SHG against)

McGill 1 of 4.

 

Goalies-

Concordia, Audrey Doyon-Lessard (L, 0-1-0, 51 shots-46 saves).

McGill, Gabrielle Smith (W, 1-0-0, 13 shots-13 saves, SHO).

 

ATTENDANCE-322

 

Referees- Jonathan Cloutier

Linesmen- Genevieve Bordeleau, Stephanie Campbell

 

THREE STARS

1. Kim Ton-That, McGill

2. Lisa Zane, McGill

3. Gabrielle Smith, McGill

 

SOURCE:

Earl Zukerman

Communications Officer

McGill Athletics & Recreation

514-398-7012