The Laurier Golden Hawks arrive in Edmonton ranked No. 6 and will play against No. 4 McGill and No. 1 Alberta in Pool A. The Hawks qualified for the University Cup tourney with a thrilling come-from-behind 2-1 win over UQTR in Trois Rivieries.
Laurier was tied for 9th in CIS regular season play in goals for at 3.5 per game. They were 10th in goals allowed at 3.2 per game. The Hawks went 4-3 in OUA playoffs; scoring 22 goals (3.1 per game) and allowing 23 (3.3 per game).
Head to Head vs Tourney Opponents:
Laurier is 0-2 this season against McGill (4-0 reg. season and 13-4 non-conference). They have not played their other Pool A opponent, Alberta, this season. The Hawks did not play Saskatchewan or Acadia this season. Laurier is 4-11 against Lakehead all time; 3-7 in regular season play, 0-2 in non-conference play, and 1-2 in playoff action. The two teams split their two regular season games played in Waterloo this season; a 3-0 Lakehead win and a 5-2 Laurier victory while Lakehead defeated the Hawks 2-1 in their best-of-three OUA Semi Final Series. Lakehead has outscored Laurier 65-37 in their 15 previous meetings.
Head Coach Steve Martell has had his Hawks playing great hockey all year and they have been especially tough during the stretch run of the second half of the regular season. The Hawks have a lot of scoring depth led by Nick Vergeer (10 goals, 20 assists), sniper Richard Colwill (13 goals, 9 assists), Matt Grennier (9 goals, 14 assists), Mark Voakes (10 goals, 9 assists), James Edgar (7 goals, 11 assists), Matt Maccarone (3 goals, 13 assists), and Dan Erman (5 goals, 10 assists),
Voakes, Edgar, and Colwill played very well in the playoffs. Others who can supply offense are Riley Moher, Rob Dmytruk, and Ryan Courtney.
The key for the Hawks at the nationals will be the play of their defensive corps and how it can handle a high powered offense like Alberta in Pool A. It will also be interesting to see how the Hawks play in their third meeting with the Redmen this season; after losing both games to McGill decisively.
Justin Day (11-4-1 reg. season; 4-3 playoffs; Reg. Season GAA of 2.87; SV% .920; Playoff GAA of 3.14) is the main man between the pipes for the Hawks and is ably backed by Ed Van Herpt and Aaron MacDougald.
Laurier 05-06 Results:
Sat Mar 11 Laurier 2 UQTR 1 PL
Sun Mar 5 Lakehead 4 Laurier 2 PL
Fri Mar 3 Laurier 4 Lakehead 2 PL
Wed Mar 1 Lakehead 4 Laurier 1 PL
Sun. Feb. 26 Laurier 6 Waterloo 4 PL
Fri Feb 24 Laurier 5 Waterloo 2 PL
Wed Feb 22 Waterloo 6 Laurier 2 PL
Sat Feb 11 Laurier 5 York 4
Thu Feb 9 Guelph 6 Laurier 2
Sat Feb 4 Laurier 5 Western 3
Wed Feb 1 Laurier 2 Waterloo 1
Sat Jan 28 Windsor 4 Laurier 2
Fri Jan 27 Laurier 5 Windsor 3
Sat Jan 21 Laurier 4 Brock 2
Sat Jan 14 Laurier 6 Guelph 3
Thu Jan 12 Laurier 4 Guelph 3
Sun Jan 8 Laurier 4 Brock 2
Fri Jan 6 York 5 Laurier 2
Thu Dec 1 Laurier 5 Guelph 4
Sat Nov 26 UQTR 5 Laurier 3
Fri Nov 25 Laurier 3 Concordia 3 OT TIE
Sat Nov 19 Laurier 5 Ottawa 2
Fri Nov 18 McGill 5 Laurier 0
Sat Nov 12 Western 3 Laurier 2
Thu Nov 10 Waterloo 5 Laurier 4
Sat Nov 5 Lakehead 3 Laurier 0
Fri Nov 4 Laurier 5 Lakehead 2
Sat Oct 29 Queen's 3 Laurier 2 OL
Fri Oct 28 Laurier 3 RMC 3 OT TIE
Sat Oct 22 Laurier 7 Ryerson 1
Fri Oct 21 Laurier 5 Toronto 2
Sat Oct 15 Elmira College 3 Laurier 2 EX OT
Sat Oct 8 McGill 13 Laurier 4 NC
Fri Oct 7 Laurier 3 UQTR 1 NC
Sat Oct 1 Laurier 5 York 2 NC
Sun Oct 2 Laurier 2 Ottawa 1 NC
Sat Sep 24 Laurier 9 Tillsonburg Sr 2 EX
Fri Sep 23 Brantford Sr 6 Laurier 2 EX