MONTREAL – Rosalie Begin-Cyr potted a pair of goals and Alice Philbert registered a 20-save shutout as second-ranked Concordia surprised No. 5 McGill 3-0 in a penalty-filled women's hockey opener of the RSEQ league championship series, at McConnell Arena, Thursday.

The best-of-three matchup had been delayed a week due to COVID protocols.

Concordia is now in position to claim the conference banner with a victory in Game 2 at the Ed Meagher Arena on Friday at 7:30 p.m. If McGill forces a rubber match, it is slated for a 7 p.m. start on Saturday at McConnell 

It was the second time in 26 games this season that McGill had been shutout, with both occurring in post-season play.

In a game that featured 13 minor penalties, the Stingers went 0-for-6 on the power-play, while McGill was 0-for-7.

The Stingers had a lopsided 42-20 margin in shots, including a 14-5 advantage in the opening period. They led 1-0 after one and 3-0 after two, then played kitty-bar-the-door in a scoreless final frame.

Begin-Cyr,a senior forward from St. Georges de Beauce, Que.,  opened the scoring at 4:36 after the initial faceoff. Then the Stingers took advantage of a poor McGill shift to start the second period. After Stephanie Lalancette St. Félicien, Que., scored at the 24 second mark, it took only 10 seconds for Begin-Cyr to give the Stingers and iron-fisted three-goal lead.

Tricia Deguire of Sherbrooke, Que., made 39 saves in a losing cause as her record dropped to 8-6 overall, including a 2-2 mark in post-season play.

Concordia will be looking to wrestle away the conference title that McGill captured in 2020. The Martlets, who have won 12 league banners, also claimed the title  in 2017 and 2015, after a seven-year reign from 2006 to 2012. McGill also won in 2003 and 1985.

The Stingers have won 19 times since the Quebec league was formed in 1980 but have had only one since 2005, winning the Ed Enos Trophy in 2018.

SCORING SUMMARY

RSEQ STATS & STANDINGS

SOURCE:
Earl Zukerman
Sports Information Officer
Athletics & Recreation
McGill University
514-398-7012
www.mcgillathletics.ca
earl.zukerman@mcgill.ca