Box Score
MONTREAL -- Chad Thibodeau of Sault Ste. Marie., Ont., scored a power-play goal at 14:16 of the third period to cap a late rally as the visiting Nipissing University Lakers shocked No.4-ranked mcGill 3-2 in men's hockey at McConnell Arena, Saturday.

It marked the second time in the last three meetings that Nipissing had stolen a game from McGill, which owns a 7-2-0 lifetime record against the squad from northern Ontario. The Redmen are already circling Jan. 9 on their calendar for the rematch in North Bay, Ont.

Goaltender Demenic Graham, a freshman from Gatineau, Que., turned aside 39 of 41 shots and watched as the Lakers scored three power-play markers in less than five minutes, to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.

It spoiled a nice soiree by McGill defenceman Samuel Labrecque, who scored twice in a losing cause. His goal at 9:47 of the middle stanza was beginning to look like the winner until the Lakers were resussitated over the final 10 minutes of the contest.

Erik Robichaud converted a pass from Jim McDowell to tie the game at 9:29 of the third period, then set up McDowell for the go-ahead goal at 11:21 and McDowell set up Thibodeau at 14:16 to make it 3-1. That goal chased McGill starting netminder Karel St. Laurent, who was replaced by freshman Joe Fleschler for the final few minutes.

McGill then pulled Fleschler for an extra attacker and it paid off when Labrecque potted his second of the night at 16:40.

But the Redmen ran out of time and watched in shock as the Lakers celebrated their first victory of the young season after suffereing a pair of overtime losses. McGill, which had a 41-36 edge in shots, went 0-for-5 on the power-play, including a fruitless two-man advantage for a minute and 53 seconds in the first stanza. Nipissing went 3-for-6 on their PP chances.

It was the first setback of the OUA season for the Redmen, who dropped to 3-1-0 and will now focus on preparing to host UQTR, which holds an identical 3-1-0 record, on Friday, Oct. 23 at 7 p.m.

LINK TO COMPLETE BOXSCORE

REDMEN RAP: This was part of the Friends of McGill Hockey alumni Homecoming weekend... Among the former Redmen players spotted over the events was head coach Kelly Nobes, assistant coach David Urquhart, Mario Debenedictis, Steven Pearce, Michael Wells, Michael Nelson, David Grenier, Stephane Ducharme, Stephane Fortin, Dr. Jay McMullan, Leonard Verrilli, Eric L'Italien, Charles Gauthier, Dan Gubiani, Chris Churchill-Smith, Teddy Kyres, Max LeSieur, Guillaume Langelier-Parent, Cedric McNicoll, Paul Theriault, Guillame Monast, Christophe Longpre-Poirier, Steven Valente, Benoit Levevesque and Jonathan Brunelle.


SCORING SUMMARY
Nipissing 3 at McGill 2
(Saturday, October 17, 2015 - McConnell Arena)

GOALS BY PERIOD:
Nipissing 0 0 3 - 3
McGill 0 1 1 - 2

1st Period-
(No Scoring).

Penalties-Thibodeau Nip (high sticking), 4:36; Robichaud Nip (high sticking), 9:34; McNeill Nip (cross checking), 9:41.

2nd Period-
1, McGill, Samuel Labrecque 2 (Lambert-Lemay, Tardif-Richard), 9:47.

Penalties-Barnard Mcg (slashing), 0:46; Labrecque Mcg (tripping), 11:52; Tardif-Richard Mcg (checking from behind, 10-minute misconduct), 12:38; McDowell Nip (interference), 13:43.

3rd Period-
2, Nipissing, Erik Robichaud 3 (McDowell, Staples), 9:29 (PP).
3, Nipissing, Jim McDowell 1 (Robichaud), 11:21 (PP).
4, Nipissing, Chad Thibodeau 1 (Morrison, McDowell), 14:16 (PP).
5, McGill, Samuel Labrecque 3 (Tardif-Richard, Regimbald), 16:40.

Penalties-Regimbald Mcg (goaltender interference), 8:23; Delisle-Houde Mcg (tripping), 10:13; Gamelin Mcg (elbowing), 12:52; Horvat Nip (high sticking), 14:33.

Shots on Goal-
Nipissing 5-14-17 -- 36.
McGill 18-9-14 -- 41.

Power Play Opportunities-
Nipissing 3 / 6;
McGill 0 / 5.

Goalies-

Nipissing,
Domenic Graham (W, 1-2-0, 41 shots-39 saves; 60:00).

McGill,
Karel St-Laurent (start, L, 0-1-0, 34 shots-31 saves; 54:16);
Joe Fleschler (ND, 2 shots-2 saves; 3:28)
Empty-net (0GA, 2:16).

Attendance: 113
Start: 5:02 PM
End: 7:18 PM
Length: 2:16

Referees-Marc-Antoine Chagnon, Mathieu Binette.
Linesmen-Guillaume Brunelle, Jean-Francois Losier.

MOLSON CUP THREE STARS
1. NIP - 74 Erik Robichaud
2. MCG - 6 Samuel Labrecque
3. NIP - 60 Domenic Graham


SOURCE:
 
Earl Zukerman
Communications Officer
Athletics & Recreation
McGill University
514-398-7012 (Tel.)
MOBILE SITE: http://mcgillathletics.ca/mobile/index.aspx
WEBSITE: www.mcgillathletics.ca
TWITTER: @EarlZukerman
E-MAIL: earl.zukerman@mcgill.ca
McGILL VARSITY COMPOSITE CALENDAR:
www.mcgillathletics.ca/calendar.aspx