Final Results
Dec 02, 06 - 19:30

Redmen 2 - Lakehead 3

Game Report by Earl Zukerman

THUNDER BAY, Ont. – Steve Rawski’s power play goal with 3.4 seconds remaining capped a furious comeback as the Lakehead Thunderwolves scored three unanswered goals in the final 12 minutes to defeat No.5-ranked McGill 3-2 in men’s university hockey before 2,766 at the Fort William Gardens, Saturday.

It was the first road loss of the season for McGill, which dropped to 8-4-3, including a 5-1 road record.

"Those guys are a hell of a hockey team out there," Rawski told the media afterwards. "Not a lot of teams come to this building and take the play to us."

Rawski, a defenceman from Mississauga, Ont., was credited with the game-winner when his centering pass from behind the McGill net bounced in off the glove of Redmen rearguard Louis-Simon Allaire, spoiling a 38-save performance by sophomore goaltender Jean-Michel Filiatrault, who slid across his crease in a futile attempt after guarding the far post from a point shot that went just wide.

The goal was scored with McGill shorthanded two men after referee Grant Sherred issued minor penalties to centre Benoit Martin (slashing) at 19:01 and defenceman Erik Stilling (holding) at 19:24.

It was the first power play goal of the game for Lakehead, which outshot the Redmen 41-32 and got another solid outing from goalie Chris Whitley, who improved to 8-2-1. The ‘Wolves went 1-for-11 on the PP, compared to McGill, who scored once in eight man-advantage situations.

McGill jumped into a 2-0 first-period lead on a shorthanded goal by Guillaume Demers at the 53-second mark and a power-play marker from Eric L’Italien at 8:39.

With a seemingly unbeatable Filiatrault between the pipes and a vice-grip on what could have been his third shutout in four starts, things collapsed like a house of cards for McGill when Tobias Whelan intercepted an errant pass in the McGill zone and scored his first of two, shorthanded, at 8:28 of the third period. It was the first shorthanded goal allowed by the Redmen this season.

Just 37 seconds after McGill captain Benoit Martin’s shot hit the crossbar, Whelan, a third-year centre from Orilia, Ont., connected on a rebound to tie the game at 17:07, putting the Thunderwolves in position for their miracle comeback.

The Redmen, who now enter a month-long exam break winless in their last four games (0-2-2), remained two points behind first-place UQTR (9-6-1) in the OUA Far East as the Patriotes were spanked 5-1 in Waterloo. The Pats play at Western on Sunday.

McGill, which has no post-Christmas tournaments on tap this year, resumes their schedule Jan. 5-6 when play at Ottawa and Clarkson (non-conference), respectively.

REDMEN RAP: McGill has tallied four shorthanded goals in 15 games, two of them by Demers, who was credited with eight shots on net, three hits and a 12-8 record on faceoffs… McGill forward Teddy Kyres was a lineup scratch after suffering a leg injury against Lakehead on Friday… He is scheduled to be examined by team physician Dr. Penny Baylis, on Monday… The Redmen are 0-5-1 lifetime against Lakehead… McGill (8-4-3) has blown leads in all four losses this season, including a 4-1 lead in a 6-5 loss to Ottawa (Oct. 17), a 2-0 advantage in a 4-3 overtime loss to Laurier (Nov. 17) and another 2-0 lead in a 4-3 setback to Waterloo (Nov. 25)…Former McGill all-Canadian Mathieu Darche, who played from 1996 to 2000, currently leads the American Hockey League in scoring with 19 goals in his first 20 games for Worcester, a farm team of the San Jose Sharks. The veteran left winger, in his seventh season as a pro, has been held without a point in only four games this season and each time has responded with a multi-point effort the next time out.

SCORING SUMMARY

FIRST PERIOD:
1. McGill - Guillaume Demers (C. Churchill-Smith, D. Urquhart) - 0:53 (SH)
2. McGill - Eric L’Italian (K. Morin, L.S. Allaire) - 8:39 (PP)

Penalties:
McGill - B. Martin (High), 0:05
McGill - D. Urquhart (Hold), 7:11
Lakehead - J. Brend (Elbow), 7:33
Lakehead - M. Soares (Board), 8:22
McGill - S. Bloom (Interfere), 9:26
Lakehead - D. Kivell (Cross-check), 13:28
McGill - S. Bloom (Interfere), 14:02

SECOND PERIOD:
(no scoring)

Penalties:
McGill - K. Morin (Closing hand on puck), 0:21
Lakehead - M. Robinson (Trip), 4:54
Lakehead - M. Robinson (Charge), 7:05
McGill - D. Urquhart (Checking to head; minor, misconduct), 8:36
Lakehead - J. Richards (Rough), 12:57
McGill - S. Shewchuk (Interfere), 13:41
McGill - Y. Turcotte (Hold), 16:37

THIRD PERIOD:
3. Lakehead - Tobias Whelan (unassisted) - 8:28 (SH)
4. Lakehead - Tobias Whelan (J. Richards, M. Robinson) - 17:07
5. Lakehead - Steve Rawski (J. Richards, M. Jacques) - 19:57 (2PP)

Penalties:
Lakehead - D. Speer (Hook), 7:14
Lakehead - S. Alphonso (Checking to head; minor, misconduct), 13:14
McGill - K. Morin (Hook), 14:00
McGill - B. Martin (Slash), 19:01
McGill - E. Stilling (Hold), 19:24
Lakehead - J. Richards (Rough), 20:00
McGill - D. Urquhart (Spear, double minor), 20:00

GOALTENDERS:
McG: Jean-Michel Filiatrault (L, 2-2-0; 3GA, 38 saves, 60:00)

LAKE: Chris Whitley (W, 8-2-2; 30 saves; 60:00)

SHOTS ON GOAL:
McG: 13-9-10 -- 32
LAKE: 14-9-18 -- 41

GOALS BY PERIOD:
McG: 2-0-0 -- 2
LAKE:0-0-3 -- 3

PENALTIES (No./Mintes):
McG: 14/36
LAKE: 10/28

POWER PLAYS (goals/chances):
McG: 1/8 (+1 SHG)
LAKE: 1/11 (+1 SHG)

ATTENDANCE: 2,766 (capacity: 3,710)

REFEREE: Grant Sherred

MOLSON CUP 3 STARS:
1. Tobias Whelan, Lakehead
2. Guillaume Demers, McGill
3. Jean-Michel Filiatrault, McGill

McGill LINEUP SCRATCHES:
--------------------------------
G: Mathieu Poitras (dressed but DNP)
G: *Jake Jarvis
D: *Ben Gazdic
F: Charles Gauthier (injd)
F: Teddy Kyres (injd)
F: Daniel Pharand