Box Score
MONTREAL – Cedric McNicoll of Longueuil, Que., snapped a 4-4 tie with the game-winner at 10:56 of the final period as No.5-ranked McGill rallied for a 5-4 victory over seventh-ranked Western in a highly-entertaining OUA men's hockey game at McConnell Arena, Saturday.

VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS

It was Western's first visit to Montreal since 2006 but the teams are no strangers and have crossed paths three times over the last five years in the Queen's Cup league championship game. They have also met twice at Nationals over that span, including a 4-3 overtime victory for McGill in the 2012 CIS gold medal game.

"Western's a real good team and one that we've had some history with over the last few years," said Kelly Nobes, who collected his 100th victory behind the bench for McGill and now owns a 100-40-4 overall record as bench boss of the Redmen. "We expected a battle and that's exactly what we got."

McGill, which leads the 20-team OUA conference in both, goals scored (38) and fewest goals against (17), had five different marksmen on the scoresheet, including newcomer Neal Prokop of Winnipeg, who registered a goal and two helpers. The 6-foot-4, 201-pound walk-on who played five years in the Western Hockey League, has collected 10 points, including three goals, in nine games.

McGill went over the 40-shot plateau for the fourth consecutive game, outshooting the Mustangs 49-38 in a wide-open and very physical contest that featured five lead changes and a whopping 88 penalty minutes, including 44 to McGill. The Redmen went 3-for-8 on the power-play, while Western was 2-for-10.

"I was pleased with our effort for a few reasons," said Nobes. "It was a tough game for the players because when we were on the penalty-kill for long stretches, our power-play unit was sitting on the bench. Then when the power-play unit was on for extended play, the other guys were sitting on the bench. So it takes a lot of focus to stay in the game and be ready to go for the next shift when there is not a lot of flow. The other thing that I liked was that we came from behind three times in the game and that shows composure for our young team and that was good to see."

The Mustangs led 2-1 after the first period and 4-3 after two.

Redmen rookie Carl Gelinas of Sherbrooke, Que., tied the game at 4-4 with a power-play marker at 3:14 of the final stanza, setting the stage for McNicoll's heroics less than eight minutes later.

Forward David Rose of Longueuil, Que., and defenceman Ryan McKiernan of White Plains, N.Y., also struck for the Redmen. McKiernan, a management senior who has a modest six-game point-scoring streak, now leads all OUA blueliners in both goals (6) and points (12)

Replying for the Mustangs was Steven Reese, Matt Clarke, Zach Hamden and Daniel Erlich.

Veteran goaltender Andrew Flemming got the start for McGill and saved 23 of 27 shots before being relieved by rookie Jacob Gervais-Chouinard, who stopped all 11 shots faced and earned the victory despite just 20 minutes of work.

Josh Unice, a fifth-year senior from Toledo, Ohio, made 44 saves in vain for the Mustangs.  

Western (5-3-0) will have almost a week off before they take to the ice at home on Nov. 15, for a game against UOIT (3-5-1). McGill, which sits atop the OUA East Division with a 7-1-1 record, will hit the road next weekend with games at Brock (5-4-1) in St. Catharines, Ont., and at York (6-4-0), Nov. 15-16.

SOURCE:
Earl Zukerman
McGill Sports Info Office
514-398-7012


SCORING SUMMARY
Western 4 at McGill 5
(Saturday, November 9, 2013 - McConnell Arena)

GOALS BY PERIOD:
Western 2-2-0 -- 4
McGill 1-2-2 -- 5

1st Period-
1, Western, Steven Reese 3 (Harnden, Salituro), 3:38.
2, McGill, Neal Prokop 3 (Vachon, Brunelle), 10:22 (PP).
3, Western, Zach Harnden 6 (Clarke, Erlich), 18:41 (PP).

Penalties-Delisle-Houde Mcg (interference), 5:01; Millette Mcg (boarding), 7:41; Cimadamore Wes (cross checking), 10:06; De Coste Wes (tripping), 12:57; McKee Wes (tripping), 15:03; Gelinas Mcg (roughing), 15:34; Laporte Mcg (boarding), 17:36; Furlong Wes (roughing), 20:00.

2nd Period-
4, McGill, David Rose 4 (Laporte, McNicoll), 1:37 (PP).
5, McGill, Ryan McKiernan 6 (Langelier-Parent, Prokop), 4:09.
6, Western, Daniel Erlich 4 (unassisted)   6:31.
7, Western, Matt Clarke 4 (Harnden, De Coste), 19:52 (PP).

Penalties-MacDonald Wes (interference), 7:04; Blunden Mcg (delay of game), 10:04; Comtois Mcg (tripping), 11:39; Rose Mcg (tripping), 18:28; Corrente Wes (unsportsmanlike cnd.), 20:00; Marantz Wes (roughing, 10-minute misconduct), 20:00; Gelinas Mcg (boarding), 20:00; Millette Mcg (roughing, 10-minute misconduct), 20:00.

3rd Period-
8, McGill, Carl Gelinas 2 (Prokop, Brunelle), 3:14 (PP).
9, McGill, Cedric McNicoll 4 (McKiernan), 10:56.

Penalties-Schwartz Wes (holding), 1:42; Gervais-Chouinard Mcg (tripping), 8:18; Delisle-Houde Mcg (checking to the head, 10-minute misconduct), 14:12; De Coste Wes (interference), 16:52; Cimadamore Wes (checking from behind, 10-minute misconduct), 18:18; Le Sieur Mcg (unsportsmanlike cnd.), 19:25.

Shots on Goal-
Western 15-12-11 -- 38.
McGill 15-17-17 -- 49.

Power Play Opportunities-
Western 2 / 10;
McGill 3 / 8.

Goalies-

Western,
Josh Unice (L, 3-2-0, 49 shots-44 saves; 59:25).

McGill,
Andrew Flemming (start, ND, 27 shots-23 saves; 40:00);
Jacob Gervais-Chouinard (W, 4-1, 11 shots-11 saves; 20:00).

Attendance: 461
Start: 7:02 PM
End: 9:27 PM
Length: 2:25

Referees-Matthew Forster, Kevin Bennett.
Linesmen-Alexandre Dubuc, Maxime Desjardins.


MOLSON CUP THREE STARS:
1. MCG - 11 Cedric McNicoll
2. WES - 71 Zach Harnden
3. MCG - 8 Ryan McKiernan