Redmen battling own playoff history against UQTR Mar 01, 06 Ice Hockey (M)
By RANDY PHILLIPS, The Gazette
Redmen battling history
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Patriotes unbeaten in playoffs; Trois Rivieres has won 11 postseason series
but McGill vows this year will be different
by RANDY PHILLIPS
(reprinted from The Gazette)
McGill and Trois Rivieres have met in the playoffs in CIS men's college hockey
11 times, dating back to 1978, and each time the Patriotes have thwarted the
Redmen's bid for a berth in the national championship.
McGill's Benoit Martin is confident things will be different this time.
"I really think we have the team to beat them this year," said the
fourth-year centre from Gaspe. "Trois Rivieres being a psychological obstacle
(for the team to overcome) maybe was the case in the past, but not any more."
No. 2-ranked McGill hosts the fifth-ranked Patriotes in the first game of the
OUA Eastern Conference best-of-three final at McConnell Arena tonight at 7.
The winner is guaranteed a berth in the six-team national championship tournament
in Edmonton, March 23-26.
McGill captured its first regular-season title in 59 years last year, but lost
to Trois Rivieres in the three-game conference semifinal after taking a 1-0
series lead.
The Redmen, having finished on top of the regular-season standings for the
second consecutive year, and with the best record in the country, face the Patriotes
in a final series for the sixth time.
McGill is 5-24 in games against Trois Rivieres in the playoffs and has been
outscored by the Patriotes 134-82.
"We're expecting a tough series. It's always hard against Trois Rivieres,"
said Martin, who will be facing McGill's perennial nemesis for the second time
in his playoff career. "We want to make sure what happened last year doesn't
happen again, but we have to play our best hockey."
McGill's record against the Patriotes during the regular season was 2-1-1,
including a 5-3 win at home in the last game of the regular season Feb. 12.
The difference between the teams all season was two goals, with the Redmen outscoring
the Pats 11-9.
"Every game was tight. You have two good teams, so it should be a great
series," Martin said.
McGill is riding a two-game win streak after taking the deciding game in the
best-of-three semifinal against the Ottawa Gee-Gees. The Patriotes swept the
Toronto Varsity Blues 2-0.
The Redmen dropped the opening game of the series with Ottawa, losing at home
for the first time this season, which ultimately cost McGill its No. 1 ranking
this week. Martin said the loss was "a wake-up call" for the team.
"That loss turned on a light that said we're not invincible," Martin
said. "We all realize we have to work hard every game if we're going to
win."
Game 2 of the series goes Friday in Trois Rivieres and the deciding game will
be back at McGill Sunday at 7 p.m., if needed.
No. 7 Lakehead meets No. 9 Wilfrid Laurier in the Western Conference final
and the series winners will play in the OUA championship for the Queen's Cup
on March 11 in London, Ont.
The OUA has been given a wild-card berth for this year's national championship,
meaning the losers of the Eastern and Western conference finals will meet in
a "play-in" game, also on March 11.
rphillips@thegazette.canwest.com
© The Gazette (Montreal) 2006
