Men's Hockey 12/30/2011 12:00:00 PM

Warriors outlast Redmen in shootout at McConnell Arena

(PHOTO OF MARC-OLIVIER VACHON BY DEREK DRUMMOND)

MONTREAL -- A spirited comeback by the McGill men's hockey team went for naught as the Waterloo Warriors skated to a 5-4 decision in an overtime shootout at McConnell Arena, Friday. McGill trailed the exhibition contest 3-0 after the opening period but eventually rallied to tie the score at 4-4 before succumbing 2-1 in a post-overtime shootout.

The Redmen power-play went 0-for-8, including two opportunities in the five-minute overtime period. Waterloo replied on two of their eight man-advantage situations.

It was a wide-open affair with McGill outshooting the Warriors 43-40 but a poor first period proved costly for the Redmen, with Waterloo using four power-plays opportunities to rack up a 16-7 advantage in shots.

First-period markers by Andy Smith, Chris Ray and Blake Chartier resulted in McGill freshman netminder Mark Segal being yanked for the first time this season. He was replaced by veteran Hubert Morin, who kicked aside 22 of 23 shots the rest of the way but was saddled with the loss after conceding two goals in the shootout, which Waterloo won 2-1 on goals by Ray and Smith.

Jean-Francois Boisvert and Andrew Wright netted second-period goals 51 seconds apart midway through the second stanza to ignite the McGill offence but Tyler Moir's goal at 12:16 put the Warriors ahead 4-2 after two.

The Redmen mounted another spirited comeback in the final stanza, getting goals from rookie Justin Ducharme at 12:21 and Christophe Longpre-Poirier at 15:46 to send the game to overtime. Ducharme was the only McGill player to solve Waterloo goalie Keaton Hartigan in the post-overtime shootout session, which last eight shots and was won 2-1 by the Warriors.

Waterloo, which improved to 14-8-0 overall, return to league action next week when they play at two games at Lakehead, Jan. 6-7.

McGill, which dropped to 14-6-0 overall against CIS opponents, resumes regular-season play against Ottawa at McConnell Arena on Jan. 6. The Redmen sit atop the OUA East with a 13-1-2 record.

The Gee-Gees, under new head coach Real Paiement, who once skated and coached with the Redmen, had an impressive 11-4-2 first-half record but that was reverted to 10-6-1 after forfeiting a win and shootout loss over Carleton. The ruling was announced by the OUA on Dec. 23 after it was discovered that Ottawa had inadvertently dressed Jon Carnevale who was supposed to be serving an automatic two-game suspension for a match penalty incurred after a 3-1 loss to Lakehead on Oct. 15. The penalty went unnoticed as it was assessed after the game and Ottawa dressed Carnevale for their next two games.

FACES IN THE CROWD: Among those spotted in the crowd at the hockey game was Sgt. Luis Oliveira, a member of the Montreal police force who started on McGill's 1987 national championhip squad. Oliveira was part of the infamous "Crazy Dogs" offensive line, a collection of characters who sometimes barked for a pre-game snack of dog biscuits, which were handed out by then quarterback Bryan Fuller, currently an actor in Hollywood. After a 1-2 start that season, the Redmen went on to win nine consecutive games and became the first Quebec university football team to capture the Vanier Cup. That team will be celebrating their 25th anniversary reunion at the McGill football awards gala on March 24.

SOURCE:

Earl Zukerman

McGill Athletics & Recreation

514-398-7012

SCORING SUMMARY

Waterloo 5 at McGill 4 (OTS:2-1)

Friday, December 30, 2011 - (EXHIBITION; at McConnell Arena)

GOALS BY PERIOD:
Waterloo 3-1-0-0-1(2) -- 5
McGill 0-2-2-0-0 (1) -- 4

1st Period-
1, Waterloo, Andy Smith (J. Schnurr, J. Underwood), 10:35 (PP).
2, Waterloo, Chris Ray (unassisted), 18:10 (PP).
3, Waterloo, Blake Chartier (unassisted), 19:04.

Penalties-
Larson Wat (high sticking), 2:01;
Picard-Hooper Mcg (hooking), 9:49;
Langelier-Parent Mcg (interference), 10:50;
Hill Wat (roughing), 11:34;
Verreault-Paul Mcg (inter. on goaltender), 12:54;
Morse Mcg (tripping), 18:07;
Larson Wat (roughing), 20:00;
Boisvert Mcg (high sticking), 20:00;
Vossen Mcg (roughing), 20:00.

2nd Period-
4, McGill, Jean-Francois Boisvert 4 (N. Therrien, B. Morse), 9:16.
5, McGill, Andrew Wright 7 (N. Therrien, C. Langelier-Parent), 10:07.
6, Waterloo, Tyler Moir (J. Larson), 12:16.

Penalties-
Verreault-Paul Mcg (roughing), 2:23;
Carwardine Wat (tripping), 5:31;
Wong Wat (hooking), 14:00;
Moir Wat (checking to the head, 10-minute misconduct), 17:18.

3rd Period-
7, McGill, Justin Ducharme 4 (C. Langelier-Parent, H. Laporte), 12:21.
8, McGill, Christophe Longpre-Poirier 4 (M-O.Vachon, R. McKiernan), 15:46.

Penalties-
Dupont Mcg (tripping), 3:24;
Verreault-Paul Mcg (slashing), 9:28;
Hill Wat (tripping), 13:08;
Einhorn Wat (hooking), 19:20.

Overtime (5 mins.):
(no scoring).

Penalties-
Molle Wat (holding opp. stick), 4:02;
Moir Wat (tripping), 4:59.

Shootout -