(VERSION FRANCAISE CI-DESSOUS)

FREDERICTON -- It may be a celebratory event for the Irish but St. Patrick's Day certainly wasn't a fortunate one for the late James McGill, a Scotsman and founder of the University bearing his name who may have turned over a wee bit in his grave on Friday. Third-seeded St. Francis Xavier took advantage of numerous lucky bounces, while seventh-seeded McGill failed to convert on a plethora of chances and fell 4-1 in the quarter-finals of the 2017 U SPORTS Cavendish Farms University Cup men's hockey championship, before an announced crowd of 3,269 at Aitken Arena.

Earlier quarter-finals had No.8 Acadia surprising top-seeded Alberta 4-1, while No.6 Saskatchewan edged No.3 York in overtime and No.5 UNB manhandled No.4 Queen's 5-1. The loss eliminated McGill from the tournament, finishing their campaign at 29-14 overall. StFX will face Saskatchewan in one semifinal, Saturday, while Acadia confronts host UNB in the other. Both games, in addition to Sunday's gold medal affair, will be televised live on Sportnet 360.

"Obviously we're disappointed -- you don't come here to lose, you come here to win," said McGill bench boss Kelly Nobes, a former Redmen player who was coaching in his 300th game behind the McGill bench, where he has posted a 204-93-3 record, including a 37-17 mark in post-season action. "We showed a lot of character, especially in the third period. We were down by two and we knew we had to build some momentum in that third period. We got the power-play chances, we got the goal, made it 2-1. Then we had a (penalty) for five minutes that we had to kill. We built a lot of momentum over that (successful) penalty-kill, but unfortunately another turnover cost us an odd-man rush (and a goal).

The X-men had a 35-22 shots advantage, including a massive 28-13 margin after two periods.

"You've got to credit StFX for their transition game," said Nobes. "It was really quick and they turned turnovers -- or bad decisions on our part -- into scoring chances. You saw a lot of that in the second period. And they defended real well. They collapsed around their net, blocked a lot of shots and took away lanes.

"I didn't come into the tournament telling everybody how many rookies I have but there's five guys that have been in this tournament (before), and that means we have 15 guys in the line-up who haven't been (here)," added Nobes. "To win here you've got to check off a lot of boxes and we didn't have them all checked off. It's a step in the process for the program getting those guys that opportunity to be here. What you see is that your game has to elevate when you get here. It's different than the conference (playoffs). You've got to get here, then you've got to elevate, and it's the same for everybody. It's a learning experience for our young guys who are going to be returning and for our program."

This game had a bit of everything, beginning with a half-hour delay to the opening faceoff after a StFX player broke the glass behind his net with a rocket-like shot in the pre-game warmup.

Then the X-Men took a 2-0 lead, with both goals coming on strange plays that resulted in McGill goaltender Jacob Gervais-Chouinard being drawn away from his goal crease, resulting in easy empty-net goals. They later added a fourth marker when McGill attempted a trick-play, long-bomb pass that was intercepted in the Redmen slot and instantly converted.

The contest also featured a rare situation that had McGill defenceman Nathan Chiarlitti, a fifth-year transfer from StFX who won a silver medal with the X-Men in last year's championship, playing against his former team after transferring to do a master's degree in kinesiology.

"It wasn't about me against my old team, it was about McGill against X," offered Chiarlitti, an OUA East all-star this season after meriting all-star status twice in the AUS conference. "We didn't execute tonight, that's what it came down to."

Matt Needham tallied the first goal of the contest just 2:27 in, assisted by Jagger Dirk and Bryson Cianfrone. Michael Clarke doubled the X-men's advantage at 14:35 of the second, with Holden Cook and Cole MacDonald earning helpers.

Christophe Lalonde, a sophomore from Mirabel, Que., gave the Redmen renewed life with a 5-on-3 power play marker at 4:04 of the third, set up by defenceman Dominic Talbot-Tassi but less than a minute later, rookie Samuel Tremblay was assessed a five-minute major for checking-from-behind, a penalty that appeared would take the air out of McGill's sails. Instead, the Redmen, drew inspiration from their gutsy PK unit, buttressed by three blocked shots from defenceman Etienne Boutet and two nifty poke-checks from Jerome Verrier.

It appeared that McGill had finally found that elusive four-leaf clover. But then came a 2-on-1 play by StFX's Nathan Pancel, who passed over to Mark Tremaine all alone in front of the Redmen net to restore StFX's two-goal lead, at 12:09, making the score 3-1.

Only 51 seconds later, an attempted long-bomb pass from Talbot-Tassi was deflected upwards by UNB forechecker Eric Locke and, as luck would have it, dropped down right into front of the McGill net. The aforementioned Cook, a sophomore forward from Oshawa, Ont., who was StFX's player of the game, pounced on the loose puck and easily converted to widen the gap to 4-1 and that proved to be the final nail in the coffin.

Goaltender Chase Marchand turned away 21 pucks to collect the victory for the X-Men.

Jacob Gervais-Chouinard, a senior from Sherbrooke, Que., made 31 saves in defeat, dropping his career record to 72-34-0 in 116 games overall with the Redmen, including a post-season record of 16-10. His four-season win total ranks second on McGill's all-time goalie leaders list, behind Mathieu Poitras, who posted an 84-36-6 record in 130 appearances over five seasons, between 2004 and 2008

McGill was 1-for-5 with the man advantage and killed off all four penalties, including the five-minute major.

The game may have proved to be the last for as many as eight Redmen seniors who are expected to graduate, including fifth-year players Mathieu Pompei and Patrick Delisle-Houde, in addition to Chiarlitti, who has exhausted his five years of eligibility. Delisle-Houde, the team captain for the past two seasons, registered 171 career points, including 68 goals, with 318 penalty minutes in 204 contests  overall for the Redmen, the second-highest number of games played in team history next to Evan Vossen's 216 games from 2007 to 2012.

Others graduating seniors, who still have eligibility remaining, include goalie Jacob Gervais-Chouinard, defencemen Alexandre Chenevert (injured), Francis Lambert Lemay and Etienne Boutet, plus forwards Simon Tardif-Richard and Rock Regimbald.

"I've got to give credit to Kelly (Nobes)," said the 5-foot-7, 166-pound Pompei, an all-star centre who developed into one of the country's premier playmakers despite having no major junior experience. He started his collegiate career with a hat-trick in his first contest and finished with a 74-97-171 record in 185 games overall. "Coming in I might not have been the best forward to play defensively and he's worked a lot with me throughout the years to make me a better two-way player. It's been a great journey and I couldn't be happier to graduate from McGill this year. We've got a lot of young guys and I know that the guys who have gotten a chance to go through this this year are going to be able to do something (at this tournament) in the next couple years."

REDMEN RAP: Kudos to the McGill Fight Band, a fixture at Redmen home games this season, which made the 811-kilometre trip from Montreal to Fredericton and instantly became fan favourites... The Redmen are expected to head back by bus on Saturday morning, which will put their season travel count at 13,517 kilometres over 36 days on the road... It is the second-highest distance traveled in team history, next to the 18,045 kilometres spent over 25 days on the road in 2014-15.

 
SCORING SUMMARY
St. Francis Xavier 4 at McGill 1
(Friday, March 17, 2017 - Aitken Centre)

GOALS BY PERIOD
St. Francis Xavier 1-1-2 -- 4
McGill 0-0-1 -- 1

1st Period-
1, St. Francis Xavier, Matt Needham 1 (Dirk, Cianfrone), 2:27.
 
Penalties-Pompei Mcg (interference), 4:34; Spears Stfx (checking to the head, 10-minute misconduct), 7:05; Curcuruto Mcg (high sticking), 18:18.

2nd Period-
2, St. Francis Xavier, Michael Clarke 1 (Cook, MacDonald), 14:35.
 
Penalties-Bois Mcg (cross checking), 3:27; Spears Stfx (high sticking), 5:32; Studnicka Stfx (major-kneeing, game misconduct), 19:23; Curcuruto Mcg (cross checking), 19:23.

3rd Period-
3, McGill, Christophe Lalonde 1 (Talbot-Tassi), 4:04 (PP).
4, St. Francis Xavier, Mark Tremaine 1 (Pancel), 12:09.
5, St. Francis Xavier, Holden Cook 1 (Locke), 13:01.
 
Penalties-Cook Stfx (roughing), 1:09; Tremaine Stfx (tripping), 3:21; Tremblay Mcg (major-check from behind, game misconduct), 4:49.

Shots on Goal-
St. Francis Xavier 14-14-7 -- 35.
McGill 6-7-9 -- 22.

Power Play Opportunities-
St. Francis Xavier 0 / 4;
McGill 1 / 5.

Goalies-
St. Francis Xavier, Chase Marchand (W, 1-0, 22 shots-21 saves; 60:00).
McGill, Jacob Gervais-Chouinard (L, 0-1, 35 shots-31 saves; 60:00).

Attendance: 3269
Start: 7:28 PM
End: 9:55 PM
Length: 2:27

Referees-Mario Maillet, Korey Bannerman.
Linesmen-John MacDonnell, Jesse Marquis.
 
PLAYERS OF THE GAME:
St. Francis Xavier - 15 Holden Cook
McGill - 13 Etienne Boutet


SCHEDULE & RESULTS (All Times AT) 
 
Thursday, March 16, 2017
 
Quarter-final 1: No. 8 Acadia 4, No. 1 Alberta 1
Quarter-final 2: No. 5 UNB 5, No. 4 Queen's 1
 
Friday, March 17, 2017
 
Quarter-final 3: No. 6 Saskatchewan 1, No. 3 York 0 (OT)
Quarter-final 4: No. 2 StFX 4, No. 7 McGill  1
 
Saturday, March 18, 2017
 
12 noon Semi-final 1:  Acadia vs. UNB (Sportsnet 360 / SN NOW)
4:00 p.m. Semi-final 2:  Saskatchewan vs. StFX (Sportsnet 360 / SN NOW)
 
Sunday, March 19, 2017
 
9:30 a.m. Bronze (USPORTS.LIVE)
1:00 p.m. Gold (Sportsnet 360 / SN NOW)

=====================================================================

Les X-Men battent McGill et complètent le carré d'as

FREDERICTON (U SPORTS) – Les X-Men de StFX ont complété le carré d'as de la Coupe Université Cavendish Farms 2017 grâce à un gain de 4 à 1 aux dépens des Redmen de McGill lors du quatrième quart de finale du championnat de hockey masculin de U SPORTS, vendredi soir au Centre Aitken de l'Université du Nouveau-Brunswick.
 
SITE WEB DU CHAMPIONNAT:
http://fr.usports.ca/championships/mice/index  

Les demi-finales de samedi, toutes deux télédiffusées sur les ondes de Sportsnet 360, opposeront donc les Axemen d'Acadia à l'équipe organisatrice des Varsity Reds de UNB à midi (heure de l'Atlantique), puis StFX aux Huskies de la Saskatchewan à 16h HA.

Les formations de la conférence de l'Atlantique (SUA) tenteront de répéter leur exploit de l'an dernier alors qu'elles avaient pris les trois premiers rangs à Halifax.

De leur côté, les Redmen voient leur saison prendre fin, eux qui s'étaient classés pour le championnat canadien à titre de médaillés de bronze de la conférence SUO.

Malheureusement pour la troupe montréalaise, son attaque n'a jamais pu se mettre en marche face aux champions de SUA. Tirant de l'arrière 2-0 au début de la troisième période, McGill a réduit l'écart à un but à 4 :04 à la faveur d'une supériorité de deux joueurs, mais StFX a fermé les livres dans la deuxième moitié de l'engagement avec deux filets en l'espace de 52 secondes.

« Pour nous, il n'était pas question de regarder plus loin qu'aujourd'hui et de penser aux demi-finales, a dit l'entraîneur-chef de StFX, Brad Peddle. La clé pour ce premier match était de sortir en force. Ce fut un match intense, les esprits se sont échauffés quelque peu, mais nos joueurs ont fait preuve de caractère. Nous étions prêts. »

Pour le capitaine des X-Men, Eric Locke, il y avait quelque chose de différent aujourd'hui au Centre Aitken, domicile de UNB pendant la saison.

« Nous regardions dans les estrades et il y avait tous ces partisans de StFX. Cela nous a donné de l'énergie. »

Du côté de McGill, le pilote Kelly Nobes était très déçu de l'élimination des siens.

« C'est évident que je suis déçu. On ne se présente pas à ce tournoi pour perdre. Par contre, nous n'avions que cinq joueurs qui avaient participé au championnat canadien avant aujourd'hui. Cette expérience servira à nos plus jeunes joueurs l'an prochain. 

« Je tiens toutefois à féliciter StFX. Leur jeu de transition a été excellent. Ils ont su profiter de nos erreurs. »

Si le pointage est demeuré serré jusque dans les 10 dernières minutes de l'affrontement, force est d'admettre que StFX a obtenu la majorité des chances de marquer lors des deux premières périodes. Les X-Men dominaient d'ailleurs par 28-13 dans la colonne des tirs au but après 40 minutes de jeu, et ont terminé le duel avec un avantage de 35-22 à ce chapitre.

Chase Marchand (Halifax) a mérité la victoire devant le filet de StFX. À l'autre bout de la patinoire, le vétéran Jacob Gervais-Chouinard de Sherbrooke, au Québec, n'a rien à se reprocher dans la défaite, lui qui a gardé les siens dans la partie avec d'innombrables arrêts clés, y compris quelques-uns sur des échappées. 

Les X-Men n'ont pas tardé à ouvrir le pointage, Matt Needham (Penticton, C.-B.) inscrivant probablement le but le plus facile de sa carrière après seulement 2 :27 de jeu en première. En raison d'une confusion à la droite du filet de McGill, Gervais-Chouinard et ses deux défenseurs se sont retrouvés hors position, laissant ainsi la voie libre à Needham, qui a vu la rondelle se retrouver sur son bâton alors qu'il se trouvait devant une cage déserte.

Bizarrement, Michael Clarke (London, Ont.) a doublé l'avance des siens de façon aussi facile à 14 :35 en deuxième. Dans son cas, Needham a profité d'un filet ouvert non pas à la suite d'un cafouillage des Redmen, mais plutôt grâce à un rebond opportun.

Christophe Lalonde, un ailier gauche originaire de Mirabel, au Québec, a redonné espoir aux Montréalais tôt au troisième vingt lors d'un cinq contre trois, déjouant Marchand d'une puissante frappe suite à un bel échange avec le défenseur Dominic Talbot-Tassi.

Quelques instants après le but de Lalonde toutefois, les Redmen ont dû écouler une punition majeure de cinq minutes, ce qui a freiné leur élan.

Mark Tremaine (Dartmouth, N.-É.) a ensuite porté la marque à 3-1 en faveur de StFX à 12 :09, puis Holden Cook (Oshawa, Ont.) a cloué le dernier clou dans le cercueil de McGill à 13 :01.

Les Redmen ont profité d'une de leurs six opportunités en avantage numérique, alors que les X-Men étaient blanchis en quatre occasions.

SOMMAIRE
Statistiques officielles: http://fr.usports.ca/championships/mice/2017/boxscores_champ/20170317_783a.xml

PREMIÈRE PÉRIODE

BUTS:
1. SFX Matt Needham (1) (Jagger Dirk, Bryson Cianfrone), 2:27

PUNITIONS: 
Pompei (McG) interférence, 4:34;
Spears (SFX) coup à la tête, inconduite de 10 minutes, 7:05;
Curcuruto (McG) bâton élevé, 18:18. 

DEUXIÈME PÉRIODE  

BUTS:
2. SFX Michael Clarke (1) (Holden Cook, Cole MacDonald), 14:35 

PUNITIONS:
Bois (McG) double échec, 3:27;
Spears (SFX) bâton élevé, 5:32;
Studnicks (SFX) coup de genou (majeure), inconduite de partie, 19:23;
Curcuruto (McG) double échec, 19:23.

TROISIÈME PÉRIODE  

BUTS:
3. McG Christopher Lalonde (1) (Dominic Talbot-Tassi), 4:04 AN2
4. SFX Mark Tremaine (1) (Nathan Pancel), 12:09
5. SFX Holden Cook (1) (Eric Locke), 13:01  

PUNITIONS:  
Cook (STFX) rudesse, 1:09;
Tremaine (STFX) trébuché, 3:21.
Tremblay (MCG) mise en échec par derrière (majeure), inconduite de partie, 4:49. 

BUTS (par période) 
SFX 1-1-2: 4
McG 0-0-1: 1  

TIRS AU BUT (par période)
SFX 14-14-7: 35
McG 6-7-9: 22   

AVANTAGE NUMÉRIQUE:
SFX 0-4
McG 1-5

GARDIENS:
SFX – Chase Marchand (V, 1-0, 22 tirs, 21 arrêts, 1 BC, 60:00)
McG – Jacob Gervais-Chouinard (D, 0-1, 35 tirs, 31 arrêts, 4 BC, 60:00)   

JOUEURS DU MATCH ADIDAS:
SFX – Holden Cook
McG – Etienne Boutet 

ARBITRES: Mario Maillet, Korey Bannerman 
JUGES DE LIGNE: John MacDonnell, Jesse Marquis 
FOULE: 3269
DÉBUT: 19:28
FIN: 21:55
DURÉE: 2:27

CALENDRIER ET RÉSULTATS (heure de l'Atlantique)

Jeudi 16 mars
Quart de finale 1: No 8 Acadia 4, No 1 Alberta 1
Quart de finale 2: No 5 UNB 5, No 4 Queen's 1

Vendredi 17 mars
Quart de finale 3: No 6 Saskatchewan 1, No 3 York 0 (prol.)
Quart de finale 4: No 2 StFX 4, No 7 McGill 1

Samedi 18 mars
12h00 Demi-finale 1: No 8 Acadia vs No 5 UNB (Sportsnet 360/SN Now)
16h00 Demi-finale 2: No6 Saskatchewan vs No2 StFX (Sportsnet 360/SN Now)

Dimanche 19 mars
9h30 Médaille de bronze (USPORTS.LIVE)
13h00 Finale (Sportsnet 360/SN Now)


Pour plus d'information, veuillez contacter:

Ken Saint-Eloy
Gestionnaire, communications
U SPORTS
Cell: 647-871-7595
ksainteloy@usports.ca

Alan Hudes
Coordonnateur, communications
U SPORTS
Bur.: 905-508-3000 poste 242
Cell: 647-991-5343
ahudes@usports.ca

Coupe universitaire U SPORTS Cavendish Farms 2017
Andy Campbell
Université du New Brunswick
Bur.: 506-451-6894
Cell: 506-470-5578
andy.campbell@unb.ca