News

Martlets quell Queen's, stretch streak to 34

Published: 2 January 2009

by Earl Zukerman

MONTREAL – Senior forward Vanessa Davidson of Kirkland, Que., scored once and set up another as No.1-ranked McGill blanked Queen’s 4-0 to open the 41st annual Theresa Humes women’s hockey tournament at Concordia’s Ed Meagher arena, Friday.

It was the 34th consecutive victory against Canadian university opponents for the Martlets, who are bidding to go undefeated for the second straight season.

McGill outshot the Gaels 47-17 as third-year netminder Charline Labonté of Boisbriand, Que., registered her 45th shutout in 96 career starts.

After a scoreless opening period, defenceman Cathy Chartrand of Lac Nominingue, Que., finally broke the ice with the eventual game-winner on a blast from the blueline at 17:48 of the middle stanza.

McGill then exploded for three markers in the last period, with Davidson scoring her 12th of the season at 8:43, followed by Lisa Zane, a defender from Mississauga, Ont., who tallied on the power play at 12:07. Sophmore Vicky Wells of Oshawa, Ont., rounded out the scoring by converting a pass from Davidson at 18:38.

“We were definitely a bit rusty in the opening period,” said McGill coach Peter Smith, whose troops were playing for the first time since Nov. 29. “I was expecting us to shake off the rust earlier but we’re a puck-control team and we did improve in that respect as the game wore on, especially in the third period.”

McGill will meet Ottawa in Round 2 on Saturday at 12:30 p.m. The Gee-Gees surprised Guelph with a 3-2 overtime shootout victory in the opening round, winning the penalty-shot session 2-0. The Martlets are 2-0 versus Ottawa this season and have won 14 consecutive games over the Gee-Gees, dating back to a 2-1 loss in the nation’s capital on Feb. 10, 2007. The Martlets own a 28-2-1 record in their last 31 meetings versus Ottawa.

SCORING SUMMARY

Queen’s 0 vs McGill 4
Jan 2, 2009
(Ed Meagher Arena @ Concordia)

FIRST PERIOD:
Scoring -
(none)

Penalties -
E. Kench Qns (roughing) 7:59,
K. Smith Qns (interference) 11:22,
E. Kench Qns (holding) 19:11

SECOND PERIOD:
Scoring -
1. McGill, Cathy Chartrand (7) (A. Lind-Kenny) 17:48

Penalties -
M. Leclerc-Auger Mcg (interference) 4:45,
K. Smith Qns (tripping) 8:23,
K. Smith Qns (hooking) 11:28,
J. Peroff Mcg (interference) 11:38,
S. Rabinovich Mcg (hooking) 13:18

THIRD PERIOD:
Scoring -
2. McGill, Vanessa Davidson (21) (J. Sheehan) 8:43
3. McGill, Lisa Zane (1) (C. Gauvin, R. Martindale) 12:07 (PP)
4. McGill, Vicky Wells (3) (M. Leclerc-Auger, V. Davidson) 18:38

Penalties -
C. Chartrand Mcg (bodychecking) 1:37,
R. Conroy Qns (interference) 10:22,
A. Morra Qns (roughing) 19:54

SHOTS BY PERIOD
Queen’s: 5 2 10 -- 17
McGill: 13 18 16 -- 47

GOALS BY PERIOD
Queen’s: 0 0 0 -- 0
McGill: 0 1 3 -- 4

POWER PLAY CONVERSION
Queen’s 0-4.
McGill 1-7.

PENALTIES (No/Mins)
Queen’s 7-14.
McGill 4-8.

GOALTENDERS
Queen’s
Melissa John [L], 60:00, SV: 43, GA: 4

McGill
Charline Labonte [W, 14-1-0], 60:00, SV: 17, GA: 0, SHO

Start : 2:04 PM
End : 4:00 PM
Attendance : 150
Referee: Caroline Laforge

THREE STARS:
-----------------
1. MCG - 8 Cathy Chartrand
2. MCG - 25 Vanessa Davidson
3. QNS- 35 Melissa John

McGILL LINEUP SCRATCHES:
--------------------------------
F: Ann-Sophie Bettez (with national U22 team)
D: Catherine Ward (with national U22 team)
G: Kalie Townsend
G: Gabrielle Smith (dressed but DNP)