Box Score
OTTAWA -- The Liam Heelis saga continues to unravel like an Irish folktale as the old but new-kid-on-the-block scored twice and helped McGill rally from an early two-goal deficit to clip Carleton 5-4 in an OUA men's hockey thriller at the Ice House, Saturday, in the nation's capital.

It was the sixth straight win for McGill over the Ravens and the Redmen improved to 28-20-1 lifetime in what can best be described as a very intense rivalry with Carleton.

The Ravens, playing in their season-opener and with fresh legs, jumped into a 2-0 lead after the opening period on goals by Ryan Van Stralen and Michael McNamee. Undaunted, the road-weary Redmen -- who defeated UOIT 4-2 the night before in Oshawa -- roared back in the middle frame to tie the score at 2-2, then outscored the Ravens 3-2 during the final stanza.

"It was a good win in their rink," said McGill head coach Kelly Nobes, whose lineup features 10 new faces this season. "We had a very challenging preseason schedule because of the quality of the teams that we played and because of the travel that we had to do (including a trip to the maritimes). The fact that we went 2-5 in the preseason and had to deal with (another long road trip) this weekend, to be able to win tonight was just good for our confidence.

"I liked the composure and the discipline that we showed for such a young team. The way we were able to respond and come back from a 2-0 deficit and have such a great second period. We were relentless. And then to show such composure against a big, physical team like Carleton. We were disciplined, stuck to our structure and game plan and were able to finish it off."

Heelis, a native of Georgetown, Ont., who also owns dual citizenship with Ireland, has been McGill's lucky charm since the OUA season started on Friday, racking up five points, including four goals -- two of them game-winners-- in two games. The 25-year-old master's student in kinesiology and physical education enrolled at McGill this summer after graduating from Acadia University -- where he starred for four seasons. He was named the CIS player of the year in 2012-13, served the past two years as team captain of the Axemen and now wears an "A" on the jersey with his new club.

Heelis jump-started a dormant Redmen offence with a power-play marker at the 33-second mark of the middle period, converting a nice feed from Mathieu Pompei and reducing the gap to 2-1. Playing like a thoroughbred horse with his ears pinned back, Pompei then tied the game on a nifty goal some six minutes later to put the Ravens on their heels.

History repeated itself again in the third period when the Redmen scored another quick goal.

Pompei won a key faceoff back to defenceman Samuel Labrecque for a blistering PP marker that gave McGill a 3-2 lead at the 21-second mark. It was the second goal in as many games for Labrecque, who led all CIS rearguards last year with 13.

Carleton freshman Brett Welychka then scored in the final period to knot the score at 3-3 on a power-play but McGill again regained the lead, when veteran David Rose connected at 13:35.

Then Heelis, McGill's six-foot, 197-pound leprechaun, found himself at the right place in the right time and made it 5-3 with an empty-netter at 18:40. The Ravens kept their goalie out and narrowed the gap to 5-4 when Corey Durocher tallied with 44 seconds remaining but it was too little, too late as the Redmen had the luck of the Irish on their side.

Carleton defenceman Jeremie Fraser assisted on all four Ravens goals.

Both teams went 2-for-6 with the man-advantage and Carleton held a 35-26 edge in shots on net but they were stymied on numerous occasions by goaltender Jacob Gervais-Chouinard, who came up with a rock-solid performance and collected 31 saves for the win, improving to 27-7 lifetime in OUA regular season play.

"To win against good teams, your best players need to be at their best and that was evident tonight," added Nobes. "Chouinard was real solid on the back-end and Labrecque scored a big goal from the blueline. Then up front, Heelis, Pompei and Rose were instrumental to our victory."

Ravens netminder Patrick Killeen, who blanked the AHL's Binghamton Senators 1-0 two weeks ago, was beaten four times on 25 shots faced and took the loss. Carleton (0-1) will have a chance to collect their first conquest of the campaign when they host RMC (1-2) on Oct. 16.

The Redmen, now 2-0 in the young season, will host Laurentian (0-0) and Nipissing (0-0-1) next weekend as part of their annual Friends of McGill Hockey Homecoming, Oct. 16-17, respectively. The Friday night affair against the Voyageurs is slated for a 7 p.m. faceoff. Saturday's contest against the Lakers is set for 5 p.m., but will be preceded by a Redmen "oldtimers" game and a family skate for Redmen alumni.

FACES IN THE CROWD: McGill grad Mike Buffone, who lives in the Ottawa area, dropped by to congratulate Coach Nobes after the game. Buffone, played at forward and on the blueline for the Redmen from 1992 to 1996, and was a teammate of Nobes, who skated for McGill from 1993 to 1997.

SEE COMPLETE BOXSCORE


SCORING SUMMARY
McGill 5 at Carleton 4
(Saturday, October 10, 2015 - Ice House)

GOALS BY PERIOD:
McGill 0-2-3 -- 5
Carleton 2-0-2 -- 4

1st Period-
1, Carleton, Ryan Van Stralen 1 (Fraser, Stevens), 9:00.
2, Carleton, Michael McNamee1 (Norris, West), 12:08 (PP).

Penalties-Van Stralen Carl (roughing), 2:06; Gamelin Mcg (hooking), 5:17; Heelis Mcg (kneeing), 11:19; Van Stralen Carl (tripping), 14:44; Fraser Carl (hooking), 19:16.

2nd Period-
3, McGill, Liam Heelis 3 (Millette, Pompei), 0:33 (PP).
4, McGill, Mathieu Pompei 1 (Labrecque), 5:53.

Penalties-Van Stralen Carl (roughing), 2:20; Regimbald Mcg (slashing), 11:08; Fraser Carl (hooking), 12:27.

3rd Period-
5, McGill, Samuel Labrecque 1 (Pompei), 0:21 (PP).
6, Carleton, Brett Welychka 1 (Zion, Fraser), 6:14 (PP).
7, McGill, David Rose 1 (Milne, Talbot-Tassi), 13:35.
8, McGill, Liam Heelis 4 (Barnard), 18:40 (EN).
9, Carleton, Corey Durocher 1 (Fraser, Welcychka), 19:16.

Penalties-Welychka Carl (slashing), 0:19; Rose Mcg (slashing), 0:56; Bois Mcg (holding), 4:31; Barnard Mcg (interference), 5:03.

Shots on Goal-
McGill 8-11-7 -- 26.
Carleton 14-7-14 -- 35.

Power Play Opportunities-
McGill 2 / 6;
Carleton 2 / 6.

Goalies-
McGill,
Jacob Gervais-Chouinard (W, 2-0-0, 35 shots-31 saves; 60:00).

Carleton,
Patrick Killeen (L, 0-1-0, 25 shots-21 saves; 19:20).
Empty-net (1 shot-1 goal; 0:40)

Attendance: 175
Start: 7:00 PM
End: 9:18 PM
Length: 2:18

Referees-Scott Loney, Chad White.
Linesmen-Scott Wilson, Scott Garrod.

THREE STARS
1. MCG - 10 Liam Heelis
2. MCG - 19 Mathieu Pompei
3. CARL - 20 Brett Welychka

SOURCE:
 
Earl Zukerman
Communications Officer
Athletics & Recreation
McGill University
514-398-7012 (Tel.)
m.athletics.mcgill.ca (mobile website)
www.mcgill athletics.ca
earl.zukerman@mcgill.ca
@EarlZukerman (twitter)
 
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