Oles well that ends well as Martlets shoot Bisons

(LESLIE OLES THREADS NEEDLE TO PUT McGILL AHEAD 3-0. PHOTO BY DEREK DRUMMOND)

MONTREAL - Leslie Oles of Beaconsfield, Que., scored once and assisted on the game-winner as the No.2-ranked McGill women's hockey team goosed the Manitoba Bisons 3-0 on Day 2 of the Martlets Invitational Holiday Tournament at McConnell Arena, Thursday.

It was the Martlets's fifth consecutive victory over the Bisons and improved their lifetime record to 5-1-0 against Manitoba, since losing their first-ever confrontation, a 3-1 decision on March 13, 2005, when McGill hosted the CIS national championship.

"We weren't thrilled with our performance today," said Peter Smith, head coach of the Martlets, who had a 31-19 edge in shots but appeared flat through long stretches of the game. "But at the same time, you've got to give Manitoba a lot of credit. They slowed us down in the neutral zone and they blocked a ton of shots. We missed on a lot of good scoring chances and their goaltender came up with a number of good saves."

McGill netminder Charline Labonte, the Olympic gold medalist from Boisbriand, Que., registered her second straight shutout, after blanking St. Francis Xavier 4-0 in the tourney opener, Wednesday. The fifth-year physical education senior kicked aside 19 shots against the Bisons to register her 71st career whitewash and improve her lifetime record to 147-13-3 overall in a McGill uniform.

Logan Murray, a sophomore from Calgary, scored the winning tally at 16:13 of the first period, converting passes from Oles and Katia Clement-Heydra of St. Bruno, Que.  Freshman blueliner Brittney Fouracres, also from Calgary, netted her second marker in as many days, to give the Martlets a 2-0 lead, on the power-play, only 39 seconds into the middle frame.

Clement-Heydra also set up Oles, who put the game out of reach when she beat goaltender Leitte Klassen of Altona, Man., at 13:02 of the second. It was the team-leading 18th goal of the season in 22 games overall for Oles, a 5-foot-2 physical education sophomore who leads the tourney in scoring with five points, including three goals, in two games. She has already surpassed the 17 goals she scored in 39 contests during her freshman campaign.

"Leslie's much-improved fitness has been a key factor in her success this season," said Smith. "She is much fitter than she was last year and it shows."

McGill (2-0), which improved to 13-1-0 against CIS opponents this season, can win the tourney when they take on the No.2-ranked Laurier Golden Hawks (2-0) on Friday afternoon at 4 p.m., in a clash of the top-two ranked teams in the country. Laurier doubled Manitoba 4-1 on Wednesday and tripled fourth-ranked St. FX 3-1 in their second game.

Manitoba (0-2), the defending Canada West champion, plays fourth-ranked St. FX (0-2) in the early game, which is slated for a 1 p.m. start.

SOURCE:
Earl Zukerman
McGill Athletics & Communications
514-398-7012

SCORING SUMMARY

Manitoba 0 at McGill 3

(Thursday, December 29, 2011 - McConnell Arena)

GOALS BY PERIOD:
Manitoba 0-0-0 -- 0
McGill 1-2-0 -- 3

1st Period-
1, McGill, Logan Murray 2 (L. Oles, K. Clement-Heydra), 16:13.

Penalties-
Vestby Man (holding opp. stick), 4:34;
Ton-That Mcg (hooking), 5:47.

2nd Period-
2, McGill, Brittney Fouracres 2 (J. Peroff, C. Chartrand), 0:39 (PP).
3, McGill, Leslie Oles 18 (M. Daigneault, K. Clement-Heydra), 13:02.

Penalties-
Vestby Man (holding), 0:21;
Cockerill Man (bodychecking), 6:42.

3rd Period-
(No Scoring).

Penalties-
Vigier Man (hooking), 1:45;
Wiens Man (roughing), 3:50;
Oles Mcg (interference), 6:06;
Vestby Man (tripping), 12:35;
Minshull Man (interference), 15:28;
Lee Man (cross checking), 18:44.


Shots on Goal-
Manitoba 6-10-3 -- 19.
McGill 10-11-10 -- 31.

Power Play Opportunities-
Manitoba 0 / 2;
McGill 1 / 8.

Goalies-
Manitoba, Leitte Klassen (L, 31 shots-28 saves; 60:00).
McGill, Charline Labonte (W, 12-3-0, 19 shots-19 saves; 60:00).

Att-212

Referee-Gabrielle Ariane-Lortie.

START: 4:01 pm
FINISH: 6:02 pm
LENGTH: 2:01

THREE GAME STARS:
1. Leslie Oles, McGill
2. Katia Clement-Heydra, McGill
3. Charline Labonte, McGill