Mar. 12, 2011 - 4:00 PM

Martlet Ice Hockey vs Queen's (CIS Championships at Waterloo; SSN; Away)

Won 3-1 vs Queen's

(PHOTO OF JORDANNA PEROFF COURTESY WATERLOO SPORTS INFO OFFICE)

WATERLOO, Ont. - The top-seeded McGill Martlets finally stifled a miracle playoff run by Queen's, Saturday, and skated to a 3-1 win, advancing to the CIS national championship game for the fifth straight year. The Gaels had won 12 straight games including six overtime playoff contests heading into the contest.

"I thought we had a tight start, we were a bit nervous (in the tourney opener) on Thursday and I thought we were were even more nervous in the first period today," said McGill head coach Peter Smith. "But I give Queen's full credit — they came out and played us tough. They played us hard and they were in our face."

VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS AND POST-GAME QUOTES:

McGill opened the scoring just 83 seconds into the contest on a goal from Katia Clement-Heydra, a freshman from St-Bruno-de-Montarville, Que. But the Gaels rallied to tie the score midway through the period on a marker from Kelsey Thomson of Martintown, Ont.

McGill captain and former Canadian national team member Cathy Chartrand says her team's experience, which included two other former Olympians in goalie Charline Labonte and defenceman Gillian Ferrari, made the difference.

"We just stayed composed," said the 5-foot-10 rearguard from of Lac Nominingue, Que. "We've been through very tight games in the regular season and I thought that helped us prepare and I thought that helped us stay calm. We just talked to each other and stayed calm and composed and made sure we communicated on the ice."

Jordanna Peroff of Keswick, Ont., scored what proved to be the game-winner on a power-play goal at 5:30 of the middle period and Alyssa Cecere of Brossard, Que., added an insurance marker less than three minutes later.

The final period was scoreless.

The Martlets had a 35-18 margin in shots as Charline Labonte of Boisbriand, Que., improved to 6-0 in post-season play. Mel Dodd-Moher , a key architect in the Gaels playoff run, registered her first playoff loss in 13 playoff outings.

Sunday's gold medal match-up will be the 16th meeting between St. F.X. (2-0) and McGill (2-0), with the Martlets holding a 11-2-2 edge. The contest will be webcast live on on the SSN Canada. Puck drop is slated for 7:30 p.m.

CIS CHAMPIONSHIP TOURNAMENT (GAME 5)

SCORING SUMMARY

McGill 3, Queen's 1

FIRST PERIOD

1. McG, Katia Clement-Heydra (1) (Caroline Hill, Jasmine Sheehan), 1:23 (PP);

2. Que, Kelsey Thomson (1), 9:34.

PENALTIES

Katie Duncan (Que) hooking, 0:55;

Brittany McHaffie (Que) tripping, 6:41;

Caroline Hill (McG) tripping, 7:28;

Shawna Griffin (Que) holding, 12:57;

Caroline Hill (McG) hooking, 14:04;

Elizabeth Kench (Que) high sticking, 19:02;

Ann-Sophie Bettez (McG) slashing, 19:42.

SECOND PERIOD

3. McG, Jordanna Peroff (1) (Leslie Oles), 5:30 (PP);

4. McG, Alyssa Cecere (1) (Chelsey Saunders, Cathy Chartrand), 8:13.

PENALTIES

Elizabeth Kench (Que) holding, 4:33;

Morgan McHaffie (Que) elbowing, 8:42.

THIRD PERIOD

(No scoring)

PENALTIES

Morgan McHaffie (Que) body checking, 10:02.

GOALS (by period)

McG 1-2-0 -- 3

Que 1-0-0 -- 1

SHOTS ON GOAL (by period)

McG 16-9-10 -- 35

Que 7-6-5 -- 18

POWER PLAY

McG 2-7

Que 0-3

PENALTIES (No./Mins):

McG 7-14

Que 3-6

GOALTENDERS

McG,

Charline Labonte (W, 2-0, 18 shots, 17 saves, 60:00)

Que,

Mel Dodd-Moher  (L, 1-1, 35 shots, 32 saves, 58:48)

Empty-net (0 goals against; 1:12)

HARROW PLAYERS OF THE GAME

McG: Jordanna Peroff

Que: Mel Dodd-Moher

REFEREE: Lisa Grison

LINESMEN: Elysia Ravenscroft, Stephanie Gagnon

ATTENDANCE: 541

TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE, RESULTS & POOL STANDINGS

NOTE 1: All games webcast live by SSN Canada on http://english.cis-sic.ca/championships/wice

NOTE 2: All games at Waterloo Memorial Recreational Complex

POOL A      GP    W     OTW   OTL   L     GF    GA    PTS

1. McGill      2      2        0       0     0      7     3      6

2. Queen's   2     0        1       0     1      3     4      2

3. Alberta     2     0        0       1     1      3     6      1

POOL B      GP    W     OTW   OTL   L     GF    GA    PTS

1. StFX        2     2        0       0      0      8     6      6

2. Laurier     2     1       0        0     1       7     4     3

3.Manitoba   2     0       0        0     2       3     8     0

Thursday, March 10

McGill 4, Alberta 2

StFX 4, Laurier 3

Friday, March 11

Queen's 2, Alberta 1 (OTS)

Laurier 4, Manitoba 0

Saturday, March 12

McGill 3, Queen's 1

StFX 4, Manitoba 3

Sunday, March 13

12:00 5th Place - Alberta vs Manitoba

16:00 Bronze - Laurier vs Queen*s

19:30 Gold - StFX vs McGill

SOURCE

Earl Zukerman

Communications Officer

Athletics & Recreation

McGill University

514-398-7012 (Tel.)m.athletics.mcgill.ca (mobile website)

www.mcgill.ca/athletics

earl.zukerman@mcgill.ca