TORONTO –Netminder Fabio Iacobo registered a shutout in his first-ever start and veteran Brandon Frattaroli scored two goals as McGill blanked the Toronto Metropolitan University Bold 4-0 in preseason men's hockey at the Mattamy Athletic Centre, Saturday.
 
The result avenged a 4-2 loss to TMU the previous day at the host venue for the 2024 U SPORTS national championship tournament next March. These were the Redbirds's first two confrontations with TMU, previously known as the Ryerson Rams, since a 2-1 loss in the OUA bronze medal game on March 26, 2022. McGill improved its lifetime record to 44-11-1 in 56 head-to-head meetings overall with the Toronto-based institution since the series was initiated in 1980.
 
McGill, which had a 35-25 edge in shots, led 1-0 after the opening period and 3-0 after two, then added an empty-netter in the final stanza.
 
Iacobo, a 21-year-old physical education sophomore from St. Leonard, Que., made 25 saves in what was his fourth-ever appearance for the Redbirds, three of them in relief. The 6-foot-1, 198-pound goalie enrolled at McGill last year after four seasons in the QMJHL with Victoriaville and the Quebec Remparts.

"Fabio was very composed and had really good rebound control," said McGill head coach David Urquhart. "He ate a lot of pucks. Much of TMU's play was a rush game and he smothered a lot of their shots off the rush, so they weren't able to get many chances. And when they did have a couple of two-on-one breaks, in the first period, he was there to shut the door."
 
Frattaroli, an industrial relations junior from Pierrefonds, Que., was credited with the game-winner when he opened the scoring at 18:42 of the first period. He added an empty-netter with six seconds remaining in the contest and now has 24 career goals in 53 games overall.
 
Other McGill marksmen were Alex Plamondon, a junior from Drummondville, Que., and William Poirier, a junior from St. Zotique., Que.
 
"We controlled the pace of the play, so it was a good response from the guys coming off a loss to them the night before," Urquhart said. "We made some adjustments in the details of our game in terms of the habits that we want to see going forward. Our identity is coming together. We want to play a suffocating, relentless game and that was on display today. It was good to get contributions throughout the lineup and fun to see the guys playing in synch and having some success doing it."

The game featured only three penalties, with McGill going 0-for-2 on the power-play, while TMU was 0-for-1.
 
The Bold (1-2) will head out to Fredericton next week for a pair of non-conference games at UNB. McGill (2-1) will host Concordia (Sept. 30 at 7 pm) and UQTR (Oct. 1 at 4 pm) in the final preseason games before the OUA regular season opens against the Stingers on Oct. 5.
 
REDBIRDS RAP: Earlier in the day, a McGill alumni team defeated a Ryerson alumni squad 5-2… Aaron Armstrong (2018-19) and Michael Cramarossa (2017-2020), who previously played for both institutions, chose to suit up for the Red and White… Ryan Penny (2019-20) led the way with two goals… Other McGill markers were scored by Armstrong, plus Doug Orr (2001-2006) and current associate coach Patrick Delisle-Houde (2012-2017)… The McGill alum lineup also included forwards Max Le Sieur (2012-2015), Lucas Madill (2003-2007) and David Butler (1995-1999). The defencemen included current Redbirds bench boss David Urquhart (2004-2008), along with Adam Shell (1999-2003), Michael Wells (1984-1989) and Chad Blundy (2000-2005)… The goaltending chores were split between Emanuel Vella (2019-2023) and Jake Jarvis (2006-2009)… The group also had a post-game get-together at a local pub, sponsored by the Friends of McGill Hockey.
 
SCORING SUMMARY
 
SOURCE:

Earl Zukerman
Sports Info Officer
McGill Athletics & Recreation
earl.zukerman@mcgill.ca
(514) 983-7012