News

Labonté gooses Pandas as Martlets go undefeated in Winnipeg

Published: 31 December 2010

(PHOTO COURTESY UNIVERSITY OF MANITOBA ATHLETICS)

WINNIPEG - Goaltender Charline Labonté needed only 13 saves to post her 59th career shutout and McGill solidified their No.1 ranking in CIS women's hockey as the Martlets blanked fifth-ranked Alberta 3-0 to win their third straight game at the Bisons Holiday Classic tournament at Max Bell Arena, Friday.

No champion was formally declared, however, as McGill was one of three undefeated teams in the unique tourney format, joining the University of North Dakota Fighting Sioux and the Manitoba provincial team, both of whom played just twice. UND was only permitted to play two contests due to NCAA restrictions on non-conference games.

McGill opened the tourney with an impressive 5-0 whitewash over the No.5-ranked Manitoba Bisons on Wednesday and waltzed to a 9-2 rout over Saskatchewan Thursday.

McGill's win over the perennial omnipotent Pandas was a convincing one as they held a lopsided 31-13 edge in shots, including a 15-3 margin in the first period.

"I think that we underperformed somewhat during the first semester but finally turned the corner at this tournament," said Peter Smith, head coach of the Martlets, who have not yet lost to a CIS opponent (16-0). "We worked real hard, played well and got better with every game. It was a true team effort."

Gillian Ferrari, the former Canadian Olympic defenceman from Thornhill, Ont., was credited with the game-winner on the power-play at 5:49 of the first period when her seeing-eye shot from the blue line made its way through a maze of legs and eluded Panda netminder Michala Jeffries.

Jasmine Sheehan, a fifth-year rearguard from Mississauga, Ont., added an insurance marker, also on the power-play, less than seven minutes later, when she tipped in a point shot by All-Canadian rearguard Cathy Chartrand of Lac Nominingue, Que. McGill put the game on ice early in the third stanza when Logan Murray, a freshman from Calgary, received a Chartrand pass in the slot, spun around and fired a shot along the ice past Jeffries.

The Martlets will return to regular-season action next weekend when they host Ottawa on Jan. 7 followed by a game at Concordia, Jan. 8.

SCORING SUMMARY

McGill 3 at Alberta 0

(Friday, December 31, 2010 - Max Bell Arena @ Winnipeg)

1st Period-
1, McGill, Gillian Ferrari 3 (Stacie Tardif, Jordanna Peroff), 5:49 (PP).

2, McGill, Jasmine Sheehan 2 (Cathy Chartrand), 12:21 (PP).

Penalties-

Borbely Alb (tripping), 4:40;
Lavallee Alb (interference), 11:03;
Oles Mcg (roughing), 19:50.

2nd Period-
(No Scoring).

Penalties-

Crampton Mcg (high sticking), 5:21;
Borbely Alb (bodychecking), 7:39;
Crampton Mcg (hooking), 15:49;
Kedra Alb (roughing), 19:20.

3rd Period-
3, McGill, Logan Murray 2 (Cathy Chartrand), 3:59.

Penalties-

Buss Alb (roughing), 1:32;
Daigneault Mcg (bodychecking), 8:31.

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

Shots on Goal-
McGill 15-11-5 -- 31.
Alberta 3-6-4 --13.

Power Play Opportunities-
McGill 2 / 5;
Alberta 0 / 4.

Penalties (No./Mins):
McGill 4 / 8;
Alberta 5 / 10.

Goalies-
McGill, Charline Labonte (W, 14-0-0; 13 shots-13 saves; 60:00).
Alberta, Michala Jeffries (L, 31 shots-28 saves; 60:00).