OUA: January 30, 2006 - The McGill Redmen have been airtight when it comes to allowing goals in what has become a record-setting season. Standout goaltender Mathieu Poitras recorded a school-record fifth shut-out of the year as the Redmen blanked the RMC Paladins 2-0 at McConnell Arena Saturday. The shutout established a CIS record as McGill held its opponent goalless for the ninth time in 18 games this season. Louis-Simon Allaire scored the game-winner at 4:05 of the opening period with a shot from the point. Poitras, an engineering student who had tried out two NHL squads, is 11-1-1 on the year, leading the CIS in both goals against average (1.53) and save percentage (.942). McGill is 41-7-3 in 71 all-time meetings with the Paladins.
Marko Kovacevic had a hat-trick as the Redmen also posted a resounding 8-0 win over the Queens Golden Gaels Friday, out-shooting the visitors 48-16. David Urquhart added two goals and an assist, while Mathieu LeClerc had three helpers. The chippy game was punctuated by a total of 138 penalty minutes. The struggles would continue for the Gaels the following day as the Ottawa Gee-Gees handed the team its second consecutive 8-0 loss. Centre Kevin Glode scored twice for Ottawa, while Martin Herard added a goal and an assist. Eight Gee-Gees had multi-point nights, while Mathieu Blanchard needed to make just 17 saves for the shut-out.
The Waterloo Warriors scored three times in the third period and then got an overtime winner from Ryan MacGregor to pull out a thrilling 6-5 win over the Brock Badgers Saturday in Waterloo. The Warriors actually took a 2-0 lead into the second period but the Badgers woke up and fired three past star netminder Curtis Darling to regain control of the game. Bryan Fitzgerald, Shane Hart and Jordan Brenner were the goal scorers for Waterloo in the third period as they tallied 14 shots in the frame. The Warriors began their week with a big 7-3 win over the York Lions. Hart had two goals, both in the third period as Waterloo finished another game off well, scoring four times in the frame. Matt Levicki had a goal and an assist, while Brenner and Doug Spooner had two helpers each. The wins lift Waterloo to 13-4-3-0 overall, second behind the Western Mustangs in the Far West.
Concordia is in tough in the competitive Far East but the Stingers showed their offensive is clicking as they scored 15 goals in a pair of wins over Toronto competition. Yannick Noiseux scored twice, while Frederic Faucher and Karl Gagne had a goal and two assists each as Concordia roughed up the Toronto Varsity Blues 7-4 Friday. The Stingers led 4-3 after a wild first period and then iced it in the second with two more goals, one of which was Noiseuxs second of the night. Patrick LePage made 39 saves for the win. Noiseux and Bruno Champagne both had a goal and three assists the next day as Concordia skated past the Ryerson Rams 8-3 at George Bell Arena. Gagne chipped in two goals and an assist, while team scoring leader Joey DAmico (5-19-24) had a goal and an assist.
Ryan Courtney had an empty-net goal and a pair of assists as the Laurier Golden Hawks dumped the Windsor Lancers 5-3 Friday. Matt Grennier also had a goal and an assist for the Hawks, who lead the Mid West with a 10-7-2-1 record. The two teams met again Saturday with Windsor pulling out the 4-2 win. Mike Tonelli scored the winner at 17:27 of the second period, while Edmonton native Jay Ewasiuk made 29 saves for his third win of the season.
The Lakehead Thunderwolves took four valuable points this weekend as they beat the visiting Guelph Gryphons twice in Thunder Bay. Steve Rawski, Jason Lange, Andrew Brown and Dan Speer all had a goal and assist each for Lakehead as they took the first meeting with Guelph 5-3. Rawski had the winner in the third period, while Chris Whitley made 22 saves between the pipes for the Wolves. Brad Priestley scored twice for Lakehead the next day as they roughed up the Gryphons 7