News

Top-ranked Martlets slay No.4 X-women in hockey tourney opener

Published: 28 December 2011

(TWO'S COMPANY BUT NINE'S A CROWD. PHOTO BY DEREK DRUMMOND)

MONTREAL -- Leslie Oles of Beaconsfield, Que., tallied twice and added an assist as top-ranked McGill spanked the No.4-ranked St. Francis Xavier X-Women 4-0 in the opener of the first annual Martlet Holiday Invitational hockey tournament at McConnell Arena, Wednesday.

It was the first competition in 31 days for the Martlets, who led 1-0 after the opening period and 3-0 after two. McGill had a 26-17 advantage in shots as Canadian Olympian netminder Charline Labonte of Boisbriand, Que., posted her 70th career shutout in 162 starts overall.

"I thought we did a pretty good job out there, considering it was the first game back after the holidays," said Peter Smith, in his 12th season as head coach of the Martlets. "You never know how you're going to play after a long break but our team works so darn hard from start to finish. It was very physical and a perfect type of game for us to have after a layoff."

Kelsie Moffatt, a freshman blueliner from Pickering, Ont., gave the Martlets a 1-0 lead midway through the first with what proved to be the game-winner. Oles made it 2-0 with a power-play marker at 2:57 of the middle stanza, then set up another man-advantage goal late in the period by Brittney Fouracres, a rookie rearguard from Calgary, who netted her first career goal in a McGill jersey.

Oles tallied her second marker of the night and 16th of the season overall with 73 seconds remaining in the final period.

Katia Clement-Heydra, a sophomore forward from St. Bruno, Que., contributed three assists on the night.

"Oles was real dynamic and had lots of jump in her step," said Smith. That line looked real good today with Katia and Logan Murray. We were missing (injured sniper) Melodie Daoust but Murray did a nice job filling in and things clicked well for them."

Goaltender Kristy Garrow, a sophomore from London, Ont., made 22 saves in a losing cause for the X-Women.

In the earlier game, four different players scored for the No.2-ranked Laurier Golden Hawks as they doubled the Manitoba Bisons 4-2.

Thursday's schedule will feature the first-ever university triple-header at McConnell Arena. St. FX (0-1) plays Laurier at 1 p.m., followed by a Manitoba-McGill matchup at 4 p.m. The soiree will conclude with a men's non-conference matchup between Waterloo and the No.2-ranked Redmen at 8 p.m.

Another triple-header looms on Friday with St.FX playing Manitoba at 1 p.m., followed by a much-anticipated showdown between Laurier and McGill at 4 p.m. The evening will be capped of with another men's contest between Waterloo and the Redmen at 8 p.m.

McGill Martlet Holiday Invitational Hockey Tournament

(NOTE: LIVE STATS AVAILABLE AT: www.leaguestat.com/qssf/femmes/en/stats/schedule.php)

Wednesday, Dec. 28

GAME 1: Laurier 4, Manitoba 2

GAME 2: McGill 4, St. FX 0

Thursday, Dec. 29

GAME 3: Laurier vs. St. FX, 1 p.m. Eastern

GAME 4: Manitoba vs. McGill, 4 p.m. Eastern

Friday, Dec. 30

GAME 5: Manitoba vs. St. FX, 1 p.m. Eastern

GAME 6: Laurier vs. McGill, 4 p.m. Eastern

SCORING SUMMARY

St. Francis Xavier 0 at McGill 4

(Wednesday, December 28, 2011 - McConnell Arena)

GOALS BY PERIOD:
St. Francis Xavier 0-0-0 -- 0
McGill 1-2-1 -- 4

1st Period-
1, McGill, Kelsie Moffatt 3 (C. Chartrand, D. Hamilton), 9:38.

Penalties-
Brophy St.FX (cross checking), 11:53.

2nd Period-
2, McGill, Leslie Oles 16 (K. Clement-Heydra, L. Murray), 2:57 (PP).
3, McGill, Brittney Fouracres 1 (L. Oles, K. Clement-Heydra), 17:16 (PP).

Penalties-
Downey St.FX (tripping), 1:09;
Parent St.FX (bodychecking), 3:27;
Crampton Mcg (bodychecking), 7:59;
Parent St.FX (cross checking), 15:35;
Cagianos Mcg (hooking), 19:15;
Downey St.FX (bodychecking), 19:42.

3rd Period-
4, McGill, Leslie Oles 17 (K. Clement-Heydra, B. Fouracres), 18:47.

Penalties-
MCG BENCH served by Cagianos Mcg (too many men), 3:10;
Normore St.FX (check to the head), 13:01.

Shots on Goal-
St. Francis Xavier 6-5-6 -- 17.
McGill 10-7-9 -- 26.

Power Play Opportunities-
St. Francis Xavier 0 / 3;
McGill 2 / 6.

Goalies-
St. Francis Xavier, Kristy Garrow (L, 26 shots-22 saves).
McGill, Charline Labonte (W, 17 shots-17 saves).

Att-212

Referee-Gabrielle Ariane-Lortie.

Linesmen-Genevieve Bordeleau, Amélie Charlebois-Faubert.