Martlets gag Gaels, advance to CIS gold medal game for fifth straight year
(PHOTO OF JORDANNA PEROFF COURTESY WATERLOO SPORTS INFO OFFICE)
WATERLOO, Ont. - The top-seeded McGill Martlets finally stifled a miracle playoff run by Queen's, Saturday, and skated to a 3-1 win, advancing to the CIS national championship game for the fifth straight year. The Gaels had won 12 straight games including six overtime playoff contests heading into the contest.
"I thought we had a tight start, we were a bit nervous (in the tourney opener) on Thursday and I thought we were were even more nervous in the first period today," said McGill head coach Peter Smith. "But I give Queen's full credit — they came out and played us tough. They played us hard and they were in our face."
VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS AND POST-GAME QUOTES:
McGill opened the scoring just 83 seconds into the contest on a goal from Katia Clement-Heydra, a freshman from St-Bruno-de-Montarville, Que. But the Gaels rallied to tie the score midway through the period on a marker from Kelsey Thomson of Martintown, Ont.
McGill captain and former Canadian national team member Cathy Chartrand says her team's experience, which included two other former Olympians in goalie Charline Labonte and defenceman Gillian Ferrari, made the difference.
“We just stayed composed,” said the 5-foot-10 rearguard from of Lac Nominingue, Que. “We've been through very tight games in the regular season and I thought that helped us prepare and I thought that helped us stay calm. We just talked to each other and stayed calm and composed and made sure we communicated on the ice."
Jordanna Peroff of Keswick, Ont., scored what proved to be the game-winner on a power-play goal at 5:30 of the middle period and Alyssa Cecere of Brossard, Que., added an insurance marker less than three minutes later.
The final period was scoreless.
The Martlets had a 35-18 margin in shots as Charline Labonte of Boisbriand, Que., improved to 6-0 in post-season play. Mel Dodd-Moher , a key architect in the Gaels playoff run, registered her first playoff loss in 13 playoff outings.
Sunday's gold medal match-up will be the 16th meeting between St. F.X. (2-0) and McGill (2-0), with the Martlets holding a 11-2-2 edge. The contest will be webcast live on on the SSN Canada. Puck drop is slated for 7:30 p.m.
CIS CHAMPIONSHIP TOURNAMENT (GAME 5)
SCORING SUMMARY
McGill 3, Queen's 1
FIRST PERIOD
1. McG, Katia Clement-Heydra (1) (Caroline Hill, Jasmine Sheehan), 1:23 (PP);
2. Que, Kelsey Thomson (1), 9:34.
PENALTIES
Katie Duncan (Que) hooking, 0:55;
Brittany McHaffie (Que) tripping, 6:41;
Caroline Hill (McG) tripping, 7:28;
Shawna Griffin (Que) holding, 12:57;
Caroline Hill (McG) hooking, 14:04;
Elizabeth Kench (Que) high sticking, 19:02;
Ann-Sophie Bettez (McG) slashing, 19:42.
SECOND PERIOD
3. McG, Jordanna Peroff (1) (Leslie Oles), 5:30 (PP);
4. McG, Alyssa Cecere (1) (Chelsey Saunders, Cathy Chartrand), 8:13.
PENALTIES
Elizabeth Kench (Que) holding, 4:33;
Morgan McHaffie (Que) elbowing, 8:42.
THIRD PERIOD
(No scoring)
PENALTIES
Morgan McHaffie (Que) body checking, 10:02.
GOALS (by period)
McG 1-2-0 -- 3
Que 1-0-0 -- 1
SHOTS ON GOAL (by period)
McG 16-9-10 -- 35
Que 7-6-5 -- 18
POWER PLAY
McG 2-7
Que 0-3
PENALTIES (No./Mins):
McG 7-14
Que 3-6
GOALTENDERS
McG,
Charline Labonte (W, 2-0, 18 shots, 17 saves, 60:00)
Que,
Mel Dodd-Moher (L, 1-1, 35 shots, 32 saves, 58:48)
Empty-net (0 goals against; 1:12)
HARROW PLAYERS OF THE GAME
McG: Jordanna Peroff
Que: Mel Dodd-Moher
REFEREE: Lisa Grison
LINESMEN: Elysia Ravenscroft, Stephanie Gagnon
ATTENDANCE: 541
TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE, RESULTS & POOL STANDINGS
NOTE 1: All games webcast live by SSN Canada on http://english.cis-sic.ca/championships/wice
NOTE 2: All games at Waterloo Memorial Recreational Complex
POOL A GP W OTW OTL L GF GA PTS
1. McGill 2 2 0 0 0 7 3 6
2. Queen's 2 0 1 0 1 3 4 2
3. Alberta 2 0 0 1 1 3 6 1
POOL B GP W OTW OTL L GF GA PTS
1. StFX 2 2 0 0 0 8 6 6
2. Laurier 2 1 0 0 1 7 4 3
3.Manitoba 2 0 0 0 2 3 8 0
Thursday, March 10
McGill 4, Alberta 2
StFX 4, Laurier 3
Friday, March 11
Queen's 2, Alberta 1 (OTS)
Laurier 4, Manitoba 0
Saturday, March 12
McGill 3, Queen's 1
StFX 4, Manitoba 3
Sunday, March 13
12:00 5th Place - Alberta vs Manitoba
16:00 Bronze - Laurier vs Queen*s
19:30 Gold - StFX vs McGill
SOURCE
Earl Zukerman
Communications Officer
Athletics & Recreation
McGill University
514-398-7012 (Tel.)m.athletics.mcgill.ca (mobile website)
earl.zukerman [at] mcgill.ca