PRAGUE – Rookie Maxime Pellerin scored his first two goals at the collegiate level and added an assist as the McGill University men's hockey team skated to a 6-1 triumph over the Czechia University Selects, Saturday.
 
The result concluded a successful overseas tour for the Redbirds, who went 2-1 in three games at the Czechia International Tournament, which included the NCAA's Cornell Big Red, as well as local clubs HC Kladno and HC Pribram.
 
McGill improved its lifetime record in overseas play to 26-27-3, with a 6-10-0 mark against Czech squads.

Things got off to a shaky start for the visitors after Mateeq Benes gave the Czechs an early lead at the 3:25 mark. But McGill roared back with six unanswered goals, leading 2-1 after the first period and adding four more in the second frame.
 
"We could tell right from the start that this game meant a lot to them," said McGill head coach David Urquhart. "The Czechs came out strong as this was their pinnacle of our week here. But we connected on a few power-play goals and took the momentum. They are using this series of games against us and Cornell as part of a selection camp for the Czech team that will be competing at the 2025 FISU World University Games. It's a big step forward for university hockey in this country."

The Redbirds, who had a decided 46-18 edge in shots, went 3-for-6 on the power-play and killed off all four penalties. Over the three preseason games, the McGill special teams are operating at an impressive clip, going 5-for-17 with the man-advantage and killing-off 15 of 16 penalties to go along with a shorthanded goal.
 
Pellerin, a management freshman from Victoriaville, Que., assisted on McGill's opening marker, a power-play effort that was converted by Mathieu Gagnon of Gatineau, Que., at 14:01 of the first period. Pellerin then struck for his first of two goals, on the power-play, only 71 seconds into the middle stanza to put the Redbirds ahead 3-1.  Less than four minutes later, he concluded his three-point soiree with another tally to give the Redbirds a comfortable four-goal cushion.
 
A trio of McGill forwards potted three points apiece – senior Zach Gallant of Oakville, Ont., sophomore Mathieu Gagnon and  sophomore Xavier Fortin of Drummondville, Que., – each of whom collected one goal and a pair of assists. The other McGill marksman was Stephane Huard from Blainville, Que.,
 
Goaltender Alexis Shank, a senior from Laval, Que., started between the pipes for McGill and collected the victory, saving nine of 10 shots in his stint. He was relieved at the 8:15 mark of the middle period by Fabio Iacobo, a junior from St. Leonard, Que. It took only seconds for the 6-foot-1, 198-pound puck-stopper to be challenged as he stoned Benes on a breakaway. But the Czech forward was awarded a penalty shot on the play when Brandon Frattaroli was called for slashing him from behind on the play. Iacobo then stopped that shot and finished the game with a perfect 7-for-7 performance in the puck-stopping department.

"Part of our arrangement in coming over here, along with Cornell, was to help develop the new Czech Univerity Hockey League," noted Urquhart. "They are up to a dozen teams here now and continue to grow and promote. They did an outstanding job of making us feel welcome and promoting our games on various social media channels (including streaming some games)..They've done an impressive job on videos, photos and interviews with our players."

McGill (2-1) was scheduled to leave on Sunday morning for a flight back to Montreal. The Redbirds will have a three-week break to get settled into school and acclimatize to Place Bell in Laval – their new home venue the season while McConnell Arena is being renovated – before resuming play on Sept. 14 with a preseason game against UQTR in Trois-Rivieres. The Patriotes are also on an overseas tour, currently playing in the UK. McGill will conclude its preseason by hosting Acadia and a rematch with UQTR before the OUA schedule begins in earnest on Oct. 4 against Nipissing in North Bay, Ont.

REDBIRDS RAP: Joining the team for this Czech tour were the parents of the Gagnon brothers (Alex and Mathieu). In appreciation of their dedication to the program, Coach Urquhart invited the parents into the team dressing room to announce the starting lineup.
 
SCORING SUMMARY

FOLLOW CURRENT OVERSEAS TOUR VIGNETTES VIA INSTAGRAM
 
REDBIRDS TRAINING CAMP ROSTER
 
2024-25 McGILL HOCKEY TEAM SCHEDULE
 
SOURCE:
Earl Zukerman
Sports Information Officer
McGill University - Athletics & Recreation
CELL: 514-983-7012
TWITTER: @EarlZukerman
E-MAIL: earl.zukerman@mcgill.ca