Box Score
OSHAWA -- Defenceman Samuel Carrier and forward Cedric McNicoll each tallied three points as No. 5-ranked McGill skated to a 4-2 triumph over the University of Ontario Institute of Technology at the Campus Ice Centre, Saturday.

McGill, which improved to 5-0 lifetime over the Ridgebacks, outshot them by a 42-28 margin. They led 1-0 after one period and were tied 2-2 after two. The game was kept close throughout, thanks to the exceptional performance of UOIT goaltender Colin Dzijacky, a native of Thunder Bay, Ont., who made 38 saves in a losing cause.

Carrier, a rookie from Varennes, Que., snapped a 2-2 saw-off with the winning tally on a power-play at 2:46 of the final period. It was the fifth marker of the season for 6-foot-1, 200-pound rearguard who assisted on the game's first goal by Alexis Millette, a power-play effort at 13:01 of the opening stanza.

After UOIT's Brendan Wise evened the count at 1-1 before the second period was four minutes old, Carrier drew an assist on a nifty wrist shot from McNicoll, just under the crossbar, to put McGill ahead 2-1

Carrier, an education freshman, has now collected 14 points in 17 regular season contests and shares the team lead in power-play goals with three.

The Ridgebacks, however, tied the score again at 2-2 when James Woodcroft connected at 18:17 of the middle period.

After Carrier's go-ahead goal, Max Le Sieur, a sophomore from Montreal, salted away the victory, scoring an empty-netter with 48 seconds remaining.

McGill goaltender Andrew Flemming, a native of Quispamsis, N.B., turned aside 26 of 28 shots and improved his record to 5-2 on the season.

The Redmen continued to look sharp on special teams, going 2-for-6 with the man-advantage and blanking UOIT on their two power-play chances.

The sixth-place Ridgebacks, who have a rematch at McGill on Feb. 7, dropped to 5-9-3, including an 0-1-1 mark under new head coach Justin Caruana, who was bumped up to the top spot when long-time bench boss Marlin Muylaert was relieved of his duties in mid-December.

McGill, which sits second in the OUA East with a 12-4-1 record, stands four points behind the upstart Queen's Gaels (12-0-5). The long-time rivals will meet for the first time on Jan. 11 in Kingston, with the return match scheduled for Jan. 17 at McConnell in the annual Management Carnival Game.

The Redmen continue with Game 3 of their five-game road trip. They will travel to Trois-Rivieres on Jan. 8 for a key match-up against archrival UQTR. The fourth-place Patriotes own an 11-4-0 record and are only three points behind the Redmen, with two games in hand.

REDMEN RAP: Defenceman Ryan McKiernan picked up one helper and continues to lead McGill in goals, assists and points with an 8-11-19 record in 17 games. He leads all OUA blueliners in goals and ranks second in points, three behind Ryerson's Peter Hermenegildo (5-17-22)... Among the faces in the crowd at the game was two former McGill players, Paul Barber (1981 to 1986) and Brent Bannerman (1986 to 1990).


SOURCE:

Earl Zukerman
McGill Sports Info Office
514-398-7012


SCORING SUMMARY
McGill 4 at UOIT 2
(Saturday, January 4, 2014 - Campus Ice Centre)

GOALS BY PERIOD
McGill 1-1-2 -- 4
UOIT 0-2-0 -- 2

1st Period-
1, McGill, Alexis Millette 4 (McNicoll, Carrier), 13:01 (PP).

Penalties-Rose Mcg (interference), 6:10; Shaw Uoit (slashing), 11:59; Logan Uoit (high sticking), 17:32; Rose Mcg (slashing), 19:37; Shaw Uoit (slashing), 19:37.

2nd Period-
2, UOIT, Brendan Wise 2 (Woodcroft, Braithwaite), 3:59.
3, McGill, Cedric McNicoll 6 (Millette, Carrier), 11:38.
4, UOIT, James Woodcroft 4 (Wise), 18:17.

Penalties-Yuill Uoit (tripping), 15:38.

3rd Period-
5, McGill, Samuel Carrier 5 (Delisle-Houde, McNicoll), 2:46 (PP).
6, McGill, Max Le Sieur 6 (McKiernan, Levesque), 19:12 (EN).

Penalties-McKiernan Mcg (roughing), 1:43; Diminie Uoit (roughing), 1:43; Crnogorac Uoit (high sticking), 2:30; Uoit bench (served by Ramsay; abuse of official), 2:46; Laporte Mcg (hooking), 8:40; Shaw Uoit (tripping), 12:12; Ramsay Uoit (10-minute misconduct), 19:12.

Shots on Goal-
McGill 16-15-11 -- 42.
UOIT 10-8-10 -- 28.

Power Play Opportunities-
McGill 2 / 6;
UOIT 0 / 2.

Goalies-
McGill,
Andrew Flemming (W, 5-2-0, 28 shots-26 saves; 60:00).

UOIT,
Colin Dzijacky (L, 4-10-0, 41 shots-38 saves; 59:40).
Empty-Net (1 shot-1 goal; 0:10)

Attendance: 130
Start: 7:30 PM
End: 9:27 PM
Length: 1:57

Referees-Ron Stakes, Sean Gray.
Linesmen-Justin Knaggs, Chris Buxton.

THREE STARS
1. MCG - 11 Cedric McNicoll
2. MCG - 16 Alexis Millette
3. UOIT - 12 Brendan Wise