McGill Redmen to open 133rd season by promoting school and hockey for today's youth

MONTREAL (Sept. 16/08) - The McGill University men's hockey team will open their 133rd season this weekend with a couple of non-conference games against the St. Thomas University Tommies. The first game is scheduled for McConnell Arena, atop University Street, on Saturday at 7 p.m.

However, due to the Alouettes home game at Molson Stadium, Sunday's game has been moved to the Maurice Richard Arena, 2800 Viau, beside the Viau metro stop. The opening faceoff is set for 1:45 p.m.

The Sunday event is billed as a special charity game against the Tommies, who posted an 11-17-0 record in the Atlantic conference last year. McGill is coming off an 18-9-1 season in the Ontario league, winning the Queen's Cup championship.

Admission is free of charge, although fans are encouraged to make donations towards the NHL Diversity program. Since its inception in 1995, NHL Diversity has exposed more than 40,000 boys and girls to unique hockey experiences.

Organized in partnership with the Hockey Montréal minor hockey program and the Service de Police de la Ville de Montréal (SPVM), the event's objective is to encourage our youth about what future doors can be opened by combining academics with hockey.

The McGill men's hockey program is a prime example. In 2006, they iced a lineup that featured a team record 16 CIS Academic All-Canadians, an honour achieved by playing varsity sports while earning an academic average of at least 80 per cent. Not only has the team excelled in the classroom but they have shone on the ice, winning their first league title since 1946 last year.

To go one step further, since 1983, the Redmen have produced 45 players who have gone onto professional hockey, including five who have played in the American hockey League and one (Mathieu Darche), who has made it to the National Hockey League.

Serving the entire island of Montréal, the SPVM seeks to enhance the citizens' quality of life by working to reduce crime, increase road safety, improve their sense of security, and develop a peaceful and safe environment. The Montreal police force supports projects such as this, which encourage positive role models for the youth of today. The pursuit of combining sports and academics is a proven scenario which fosters good team spirit, a healthier lifestyle and helps reduce juvenile delinquency.
2008-09 McGILL REDMEN HOCKEY SCHEDULE

Saturday, September 20 St. Thomas at McGill 7:00 pm nc
Sunday, September 21 St. Thomas at McGill (@ Maurice Richard Arena) 1:45 pm nc
Friday, September 26 McGill at Laurier 7:00 pm nc
Saturday, September 27 McGill at Waterloo 7:30 pm nc
Saturday, October 4 McGill at Merrimack 7:00 pm nc
Sunday, October 5 McGill at Vermont 4:00 pm nc
Friday, October 10 CONCORDIA at McGILL 7:00 PM OUA
Saturday, October 11 McGILL at OTTAWA 7:00 PM OUA
Saturday, October 18 McGILL at CARLETON 3:00 PM OUA
Friday, October 31 TROIS-RIVIERES at McGILL 7:00 PM OUA
Wednesday, November 5 McGILL at TROIS-RIVIERES 7:00 PM OUA
Friday, November 7 ROYAL MILITARY COLLEGE at McGILL 7:00 PM OUA
Saturday, November 8 QUEEN'S at McGILL 7:00 PM OUA
Saturday, November 15 McGILL at QUEEN'S 7:30 PM OUA
Sunday, November 16 McGILL at CARLETON 3:00 PM OUA
Friday, November 21 TORONTO at McGILL 7:00 PM OUA
Saturday, November 22 RYERSON at McGILL 7:00 PM OUA
Tuesday, November 25 OTTAWA at McGILL 7:00 PM OUA
Friday, November 28 McGILL at TORONTO 7:30 PM OUA
Saturday, November 29 McGILL at RYERSON 2:00 PM OUA
Friday, January 9 YORK at McGILL 7:00 PM OUA
Saturday, January 10 ONTARIO TECH (UOIT) at McGILL 7:00 PM OUA
Wednesday, January 14 CONCORDIA at McGILL 7:00 PM OUA
Saturday, January 17 McGILL at BROCK 7:35 PM OUA
Sunday, January 18 McGILL at GUELPH 2:00 PM OUA
Saturday, January 24 OTTAWA at McGILL 7:00 PM OUA
Sunday, January 25 McGILL at ROYAL MILITARY COLLEGE 7:30 PM OUA
Wednesday, January 28 McGILL at CONCORDIA 8:00 PM OUA
Friday, January 30 CARLETON at McGILL 7:00 PM OUA
Saturday, January 31 TROIS-RIVIERES at McGILL 7:00 PM OUA
Friday, February 6 McGILL at TROIS-RIVIERES 7:00 PM OUA
Sunday, February 8 McGILL at CONCORDIA 3:00 PM OUA
Friday, February 13 CARLETON at McGILL 7:00 PM OUA
Saturday, February 14 McGILL at OTTAWA 7:00 PM OUA
OUA CONFERENCE QUARTER-FINALS PO
Wednesday, February 18 (Best of Three; 6th Place vs 3rd Place & 5th Place vs 4th Place)
Friday, February 20 (Best of Three; 6th Place vs 3rd Place & 5th Place vs 4th Place)
Sunday, February 22 (Best of Three; 6th Place vs 3rd Place & 5th Place vs 4th Place)
OUA CONFERENCE SEMI-FINALS PO
Wednesday, February 25 (Best of Three; Quarter-Final Winners vs 1st Place & 2nd Place)
Friday, February 27 (Best of Three; Quarter-Final Winners vs 1st Place & 2nd Place)
Sunday, March 1 (Best of Three; Quarter-Final Winners vs 1st Place & 2nd Place)
OUA CONFERENCE FINALS PO
Wednesday, March 4 (Best of Three; Semi-Final Winners)
Friday, March 6 (Best of Three; Semi-Final Winners)
Sunday, March 8 (Best of Three; Semi-Final Winners)
OUA QUEEN'S CUP FINAL & CONSOLATION GAMES PO
Saturday, March 14 (East Conference Champion vs West Conference Champion)
CIS UNIVERSITY CUP CHAMPIONSHIP TOURNAMENT PO
March 26-26 (at Lakehead University; Thunder Bay, ON)

nc (non-conference)
OUA (league game)
PO (playoffs)

SOURCE:
Earl Zukerman
Communications Officer,
Dept. of Athletics & Recreation
McGill University
514-398-7012 (Tel.)
www.athletics.mcgill.ca