NAPANEE, Ont. -- Gabrielle Davidson of Pte. Claire, Que., played the hero yet again, scoring at 17:31 of the final period as fourth-seeded McGill blanked top-ranked UBC 1-0 before a capacity crowd at the Strathcona Paper Centre on Saturday, to earn a berth in the gold medal game of the U SPORTS women's hockey national championship tournament.

The Martlets, who had never beaten UBC in two prior attempts, will skate for gold against the Alberta Pandas, who defeated Concordia 6-2 in the other semifinal. The Stingers will confront Alberta for bronze at 3 pm, followed by the finale at 7 p.m.  Both games will be streamed live on OUA.TV at on Sunday (March 19).

"We played the game with a lot of confidence," said Martlets head coach Peter Smith, whose troops have claimed four national titles, four silver medals and five bronzes. "There was never a moment on the bench where I felt the girls were worried. They knew that they were playing well, they knew that they were creating a lot of opportunities, and I think they all felt that 'Hey, it's going to come'. That's what they kept saying -- 'Hey it's coming, it's gonna come, it's gonna come' -- and it did.

"This is our ninth time in a gold medal game and it's good to get back, especially after last year," he added, referring to an 0-2 record at the 2016 tourney held in Calgary. "It was a big disappointment, our performance last year. To bring a young team here and to get to the gold medal just says a lot about the work ethic and the coachability of our team."

McGill outshot the Thunderbirds -- who led the national coaches' poll from the third week of the season onwards -- by a dominant 30-17 measure, including a 20-8 advantage after 40 minutes.

Despite the heavy workload for UBC goalie Amelia Boughn, it took until the bitter end for the Martlets' persistence to translate to the scoreboard.

With just 2:29 remaining and the score still tied at 0-0, McGill captain Melodie Daoust of Valleyfield, Que., carried the puck behind the Thunderbirds net and passed it to Davidson, who found herself open in the slot and buried it low, off the right goal-post.

"It happened very quick," said the 5-foot-4 forward of the winning play. "Mélo and I said 'It's time to take care of business' and it just happened that I found the right spot in front of the net by myself. I just tried to slam it home as hard as I could and fortunately it went in. We were very positive (on the bench), we had lots of energy. We just believed in what we could do and in just sticking with the plan to keep going hard, and it worked for us today."

Davidson has tallied three of McGill's four goals at this tournament and a team-leading seven goals in seven post-season contests, giving her 27 in 33 career playoff games.

"Gabby was unbelievable," said Smith who referred to her as a silent assassin in a post-game webcast interview on OUA-TV. "(Her teammates) gave her the golden helmet (as the team's player of the game) -- her and (goaltender) Tricia Deguire, they shared it. One kept the puck out and one put the puck in. Gabby again was just terrific. She was all over the ice, she was great on her face-offs. I had her out with a variety of people and no matter who she was out there with she just made everybody better."

Deguire, a 5-foot-7 freshman from Sherbrooke, Que., earned a 17-save shutout, her third of the playoffs. The U SPORTS rookie of the year hasn't allowed a goal in over 119 minutes in the tournament since being beaten 41 seconds into the opening game.

Boughn made 29 saves in defeat for the Thunderbirds.

As was the case in their two previous meetings, all within the past calendar year, there was no love lost between the teams, which combined for 16 penalties and 32. Both sides were effective on the kill, with the Martlets neutralizing six infractions and UBC negating eight McGill power-plays.

"Our kill was good," offered Smith. "Clearly the one downside for us is I would like to have gotten the puck in the back of the net on the power-play. We had a lot of opportunities and in all fairness I thought our power-play was good. We created a lot of opportunities and a lot of shots on the PP but just couldn't get the puck in the back of their net. Their goaltender made a couple of big saves and we hit some bodies in front. Often the criticism of our power play is that we keep the puck on the outside and I wouldn't say that today. We got the puck on the inside, we just didn't get it to the back of the net."

"The next game's going to be a real good, competitive game -- as they all have been this week," said Smith. "It's been great here: eight good teams going hard and playing competitive games."
 
"It's tough, I'm still a little bit in shock," said UBC head coach Graham Thomas in an emotional post-game interview. "This is why you hate the game, this is why you love the game — I'm really proud of our group and all the firsts we've accomplished this season."
 
GAME NOTES: McGill will seek their fifth first national championship and their first since a lucky st. Patrick's Day in 2014, when they defeated the Montreal Carabins 4-3 at 37 seconds of double overtime, with defenceman Brittney Fouracres netting the winner on a power-play... The Martlets also won in 2008, 2009 and 2011... UBC has never won a national title.

CHAMPIONSHIP WEBSITE: http://en.usports.ca/championships/wice/index

LINK TO COMPLETE BOXSCORE

SCORING SUMMARY
McGill 1 at UBC 0
(Saturday, March 18, 2017 - Strathcona Paper Centre)

GOAL BY PERIOD:
McGill 0-0-1 -- 1
UBC 0-0-0 -- 0

1st Period-
No Scoring.
 
Penalties-Cahoon Ubc (interference), 4:31; Atkinson Mcg (hooking), 4:58; Ranahan Ubc (body checking), 10:46; Vilgrain Ubc (hooking), 14:53; Todd Mcg (slashing), 18:28.

2nd Period-
No Scoring.
 
Penalties-Daoust Mcg (roughing), 1:11; Murray Ubc (interference), 7:09; Vilgrain Ubc (slashing), 10:46; Cotter Mcg (interference), 19:06.

3rd Period-
1, McGill, Gabrielle Davidson 3 (Daoust), 17:31.
 
Penalties-Bowman Mcg (hooking), 4:15; Murray Ubc (tripping), 8:06; Cahoon Ubc (hooking), 11:56; Atkinson Mcg (holding), 15:58; Murray Ubc (tripping), 16:47; Lavoie Mcg (slashing), 19:07; Tardif Ubc (roughing), 19:07.

Shots on Goal-
McGill 9-11-10 -- 30.
UBC 4-4-9 -- 17.

Power Play Opportunities-
McGill 0 / 8;
UBC 0 / 6.

Goalies-
McGill, Tricia Deguire (W, 2-0-0, 17 shots-17 saves; 60:00).
UBC, Amelia Boughn (L, 1-1-0, 30 shots-29 saves; 57:46).

Attendance: 418
Start: 2:59 PM
End: 5:09 PM
Length: 2:10

Referees-Melanie Bordeleaux.
Linesmen-Marce Ross, Laurie Longpre.
 
PLAYERS OF THE GAME:
McGill - 15 Gabrielle Davidson
UBC - 20 Amelia Boughn


SCHEDULE & RESULTS (All times EASTERN)
 
Thursday, March 16
Quarter-final 1: No.4 McGill 3, No.5 StFX 1
Quarter-final 2: No.1 UBC 2, No.8 Queen's 1
 
Friday, March 17
Quarter-final 3: No.3 Saint Mary's 1, No.6 Alberta 2
Quarter-final 4: No. 2 Guelph 3,  No. 7 Concordia 4 (SO)
Consolation 1: No. 5 StFX 0, No.8 Queen's 2
 
Saturday, March 18
Consolation 2: No.3 Saint Mary's 4, No.2 Guelph 3 (SO)
Semifinal 1: No. 4 McGill 1, No.1 UBC 0
Semifinal 2: No.6 Alberta 6, No.7 Concordia 2 
 
Sunday, March 19
11:00 a.m. No.8 Queen's vs. No.3 Saint Mary's (OUA.TV)  
3:00 a.m. No.1 UBC vs.No. 7 Concordia  (OUA.TV)  
7:00 p.m. No.4 McGill vs No. 6 Alberta (OUA.TV) 

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

DF 1: Championnat de hockey féminin U SPORTS 2017 
Davidson propulse les Martlets en finale

NAPANEE, Ont. (U SPORTS) – Un but tardif de Gabrielle Davidson en troisième période a permis aux Martlets de McGill, classées quatrièmes, d'écarter de leur route les favorites des Thunderbirds de UBC et de l'emporter 1-0 en demi-finale du championnat de hockey féminin 2017 de U Sports au centre Strathcona Paper de Napanee. 
 
SITE WEB DE CHAMPIONNAT: http://fr.usports.ca/championships/wice/index
 
McGill a maintenant rendez-vous en finale nationale face à l'Alberta ou Concordia dimanche à 19h HE. UBC tentera pour sa part de mettre la main sur la médaille de bronze dimanche à 15h HE. Ces deux matchs seront diffusés au OUA.TV. 
 
Les Martlets seront en quête du cinquième titre canadien de leur histoire. 
 
« Ce fut un match de haute intensité, a commenté l'entraîneur-chef des Martlets Peter Smith. Les deux équipes ont bien joué et bataillé tout au long au match. Nous sommes très fiers d'être de retour au match de médaille d'or. »
 
En prévision du match de championnat, Smith sait que sa troupe devra trouver des façons de faire bouger les cordages.
 
« Notre jeu de puissance nous a permis de créer des occasions de marquer aujourd'hui, mais ce ne fut pas suffisant pour loger la rondelle dans le but. C'est quelque chose que nous devrons améliorer. »
 
Les deux gardiennes ont brillé au cours de ce match. Amelia Boughn a repoussé 29 des 30 tirs dirigés vers la cage des T-Birds tandis que Tricia Deguire a bloqué 17 tirs pour le blanchissage. 
 
Le match s'est déroulé à vive allure et ce sont les gardiennes qui se sont mises en évidence en premier, particulièrement Boughn qui a mis fin à deux menaces adverses tôt en première période. 
 
Avec plusieurs pénalitées octroyées de part et d'autres, les unités spéciales des deux formations ont joué un rôle déterminant. McGill a obtenu des occasions en avantage numérique mais Boughn s'est de nouveau imposée. 
 
Les Martlets sont finalement venues à bout de Boughn avec seulement 2 :29 à faire au troisième tiers. Après un jeu de puissance de UBC, l'étoile canadienne a repéré Davidson dans l'enclave et cette dernière a profité d'un tir sur réception pour briser l'égalité et semer l'hystérie dans le camp des Montréalaises. McGill n'en demandait pas plus et a contrôlé le reste du match pour mettre fin aux hostilités. 
« C'est difficile, je suis un peu en état de choc, a dit le pilote des T-Birds Graham Thomas, émotif au terme du match. C'est pourquoi on déteste le sport et pourquoi on adore le sport. Je suis très fier de cette équipe et de ce qu'elle a accompli cette saison. »
 
NOTES : McGill en sera à une première apparition en finale depuis la saison 2013-2014…UBC est toujours à la recherche d'un premier titre national… Gabrielle Davidson domine les buteuses de la compétition avec trois buts… 16 pénalités ont été attribuées au cours du match…

SOMMAIRE
 
Statistiques officielles : http://fr.usports.ca/championships/wice/2017/boxscores_champ/20170316_vrsi.xml
 
PREMIÈRE PÉRIODE
 
Aucun but.
 
PÉNALITÉS :
 
Cahoon (UBC) obstruction, 4:31;
Atkinson (MCG) accroché, 4:58;
Ranahan (UBC) mise en échec, 10:46;
Vilgrain (UBC) accroché, 14:53;
Todd (MCG) coup de bâton, 18:28.
 
DEUXIÈME PÉRIODE
 
Aucun but.
 
PÉNALITÉS :
 
Daoust (MCG) rudesse, 1:11;
Murray (UBC) obstruction, 7:09;
Vilgrain (UBC) coup de bâton, 10:56;
Cotter (MCG) obstruction, 19:06; 
 
TROISIÈME PÉRIODE
 
1. MCG Gabrielle Davidson (3) (Melodie Daoust), 17:31
 
PÉNALITÉS :
 
Bowman (MCG) accroché, 4:15;
Murray (UBC) trébuché, 8:06; 
Cahoon (UBC) accroché, 11:56; 
Atkinson (MCG) retenu, 15:58;
Murray (UBC) trébuché, 16:47;
Lavoie (MCG) coup de bâton, 19:07; 
Tardif (UBC) rudesse, 19:07. 
 
BUTS (par période)
MCG 0-0-1: 1
UBC 0-0-0: 0
 
TIRS AU BUT (par période)
MCG 9-11-10: 30
UBC 4-4-9: 17
 
AVANTAGE NUMÉRIQUE :
MCG 0-8
UBC 0-6
 
GARDIENNES DE BUT
MCG — Tricia Deguire (V, 2-0, 17 tirs, 17 arrêts, 0 BC, 60:00)
UBC — Amelia Boughn (D, 1-1, 30 tirs, 29 arrêts, 1 BC, 60:00)
 
JOUEUSE DU MATCH
MCG: Gabrielle Davidson
UBC: Amelia Boughn
 
ARBITRE: Melanie Bordeleau
 
JUGES DE LIGNE: Marce Ross and Laura Longpre
 
DÉBUT: 14h59
FIN: 17h09
DURÉE: 2:10
 
CALENDRIER ET RÉSULTATS (toutes les heures à l'heure de l'est)
 
Jeudi 16 mars
15h00 Quart de finale 1: No 4 McGill 3, No5 St-FX 1
19h00 Quart de finale 2: No1 UBC 2, No8 Queen's 1
 
Vendredi 17 mars
Quart de finale 3: No. 3 Saint-Mary's 1, No. 6 Alberta 2
Quart de finale 4: No. 2 Guelph 3, No. 7 Concordia 4 (F)
Consolation 1: No. 5 StFX 0, No. 8 Queen's 2 (OUA.TV)
 
Samedi 18 mars
Consolation 2: No.3 Saint-Mary's 4, No.2 Guelph 3 (F) (OUA.TV)
Demi-finale 1: No.4 McGill 1, No.1 UBC 0 (OUA.TV)
19h00 Demi-finale 2: No.6 Alberta vs. No.7 Concordia 4 (OUA.TV)
 
Dimanche 19 mars
11h00 Match de la 5e place No.8 Queen's vs. No.3 Saint-Mary's (OUA.TV)
15h00 Match de la médaille de bronze No.1 UBC vs. À déterminer (OUA.TV)
19h00 Finale No. 4 McGill vs. à determiner (OUA.TV)
 
 
 
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
 
Shawn MacDonald
Université Queen's
Bur.: (613) 533-6000 poste 36990
Cell: (613) 484-6763
shawn.macdonald@queensu.ca