Final Results
Dec 01, 06 - 19:30
Redmen 3 - Lakehead 3 (OT)
Game Report by Earl Zukerman
THUNDER BAY, Ont., – Sam Bloom of Toronto scored the tying goal on a disputed
play with less than seven minutes to go and added an assist as the No.5-ranked
McGill men’s hockey team battled Lakehead University to a 3-3 overtime
tie, before 3,097 fans at Fort William Gardens, Friday.
It was the first-ever regular-season meeting between these teams although they
had crossed paths four previous times, with Lakehead winning all three non-conference
match-ups in addition to the OUA league championship game last spring.
McGill, now winless in its last three games (0-1-2), nonetheless extended its
unbeaten road record to 5-0-1 in league play. They outshot the Thunderwolves
46-28, including a staggering 19-7 margin in the first period. The game was
tied 1-1 after one and 2-2 after two.
Goaltender Chris Whitley from Oshawa, Ont., came up big with 43 saves and improved
his record to 7-2-2. Mathieu Poitras, now 6-3-2, made 25 saves for McGill.
Team captain Benoit Martin put the Redmen ahead 1-0 midway through the opening
period with his team-leading eighth goal – his sixth in the past three
games -- but Mark Soares, a freshman from Burnaby, B.C., evened the count less
than two minutes later with his first of two.
Chris Churchill-Smith, a third-year forward from Westmount, Que., who had arguably
his best game in a McGill jersey, netted his fourth of the year at 4:24 of the
middle period. The arts major was also credited with five hits and three shots
on net.
Jeff Richards tied the game at the 12-minute mark of the middle stanza, setting
the table for Soares and Bloom in the third.
McGill, 8-3-3 including an overtime loss, will meet Lakehead (9-4-2) again
at the Fort William Gardens on Saturday night in the final games for both teams
before the month-long December exam break.
REDMEN RAP: The game featured only 14 penalties, seven minors each… Both
teams were 0-for-3 on the powerplay… McGill has now played six overtime
games in 22 games overall and owns a 1-2-3 record when extra time is needed…
Speedy winger Eric L’Italien picked up one assist to improve his team-leading
points total to 5-11-16 in 14 contests…Hard-hitting Redmen forward Teddy
Kyres tumbled hard into the boards in the second period and did not return…
He was spotted hobbling on a pair of crutches after the game.
SCORING SUMMARY
FIRST PERIOD:
1. McGill - Benoit Martin (S. Shewchuk) - 12:57
2. Lakehead - Mark Soares (T. Whelan) - 14:39
Penalties:
Lakehead - D. Speer (Slash), 2:34
Lakehead - J. Brend (Hook), 5:06
McGill - M. Leclerc (Cross-check), 10:01
McGill - Churchill-Smith (Hold), 11:50
Lakehead - Bench (Too many men), 12:37
SECOND PERIOD:
3. McGill - Chris Churchill-Smith (M. Leclerc, S. Bloom) - 4:24
4. Lakehead - Jeff Richards (M. Soares, T. Whelan) - 12:02
Penalties:
(none)
THIRD PERIOD:
5. Lakehead - Mark Soares (unassisted) - 10:07
6. McGill - Sam Bloom (M. Leclerc, E. L’Italien) - 13:02
Penalties:
Lakehead - D. Rogers (Rough), 6:16
Lakehead - A. Brown (Rough, dble minor), 6:16
McGill - E. Stilling (Rough, dble minor), 6:16
McGill - M. Kovacevic (Rough), 6:16
McGill - Y. Turcotte (Slash), 6:39
McGill - M. Shewchuk (Unsportsmanlike), 12:00
Lakehead - R. Molenaar (Rough), 12:00
GOALTENDERS:
McGill: Mathieu Poitras (T, 6-3-2; 3GA, 25 saves; 65:00
Lakehead: Chris Whitley (T, 7-2-2; 3GA, 43 saves; 65:00)
SHOTS BY PERIOD:
McGill: 19 - 9 - 12 - 6 -- 46
Lakehead: 7 - 12 - 9 - 0 -- 28
GOALS BY PERIOD:
McGill: 1 - 1 - 1 - 0 -- 3
Lakehead: 1 - 1 - 1 - 0 -- 3
PENALTIES (No./Mins):
McGill: 7/14
Lakehead: 7/14
POWER PLAY (Goals/Chances):
McGill: 0/3
Lakehead: 0/3
REFEREE: Andrew Brewer
ATTENDANCE: 3, 097
MOLSON CUP 3 STARS:
1. Sam Bloom, McGill
2. Mark Soares, Lakehead
3. Chris Churchill-Smith, McGill
