Verrilli's shortie burns Badgers badly

By Earl Zukerman

ST. CATHARINES, Ont. – A shorthanded goal by Leonard Verrilli of Dollard des Ormeaux, Que., at 18:53 of the final period, snuffed out a late rally and assured McGill of a 4-2 decision over Brock University in men’s university hockey at the Seymour-Hannah Centre, Friday.

Francis Verrault-Paul, a freshman right-winger from Mashteuiatsh, Que., gave McGill a 1-0 lead midway through the first period, then set up a goal by Vincent Lambert of Ste. Therese, Que., just four minutes later.

After a scoreless second period, Brock rearguard Eric Toonders ignited the Badgers with his marker at 12:33 of the final stanza.

But Verrilli’s goal effectively dashed any hopes the badgers had and teammate Sam Bloom, a senior from Toronto, added an empty-netter at 18:50 to seal the deal. Joey Pell completed the scoring for Brock on a power play with only 10 seconds remaining, to keep the score respectable.

Rookie goaltender Kevin Desfossés, who joined the Redmen two weeks ago after a nine-game pro stint with Port Huron in the International Hockey League, made 20 saves for his first victory in his second-ever CIS start. The 20-year-old native of Beauport, Que., led the Quebec Remparts to a Memorial Cup championship in 2006.

Tommy Lee made 37 saves in a losing cause for the Badgers and his record dropped to 1-5-0

McGill, which dominated the play with a 41-22 margin in shots, improved to 10-6-2 in OUA action, while Brock fell to 7-11-3. The Redmen will play at Guelph on Sunday at 2 p.m., while Brock hosts Concordia.

REDMEN RAP: McGill has tallied 32.8 percent of their 61 goals on special teams, with 16 power play markers and four shorthanded efforts in 18 games…. Freshman Alexandre Picard-Hooper leads the team in points and assists with 6-16-22… Sam Bloom leads in goals (10)… Marko Kovacevic tops the squad with four PPGs and Evan Vossen leads in shorthanded goals with two… The top-scoring defenceman is rookie Marc-André Dorion with 1-12-13 in 17 games.


SCORING SUMMARY

McGill 4 at Brock 2

(Jan 17, 2009 @ Seymour-Hannah Centre)

FIRST PERIOD:
Scoring -
1. McGill, Francis Verrault-Paul (8) (G. Doucet, A. Wright) 9:57
2. McGill, Vincent Lambert (2) (F. Verrault-Paul, A. Wright) 14:15

Penalties -
B. Flynn Bro (interference) 7:56

SECOND PERIOD:
Scoring -
No Scoring

Penalties -
S. Pattison Bro (checking to the head minor, 10-minute misconduct) 4:56,
E. Litalien Mcg (cross checking) 10:03,
B. Giroux Bro (unsportsmanlike cnd.) 12:54,
R. Allen Bro (slashing) 15:01,
M. Langelier-Parent Mcg (boarding) 18:10,
Y. Turcotte Mcg (interference) 19:10

THIRD PERIOD:
Scoring -
3. Brock, Eric Toonders (3) (M. MacIntyre, B. Giroux) 12:33
4. McGill, Leonard Verrilli (2) (Y. Turcotte, M. Langelier-Parent) 15:53 (SH)
5. McGill, Sam Bloom (10) 18:50 (EN)
6. Brock, Joey Pell (2) (D. Dooley) 19:50 (PP)

Penalties -
A. Schwark Bro (checking from behind minor, game misconduct) 1:27,
M. Dorion Mcg (hooking) 6:10,
M. MacIntyre Bro (slashing) 13:04,
A. Wright Mcg (slashing) 15:22,
Y. Turcotte Mcg (interference) 19:44

SHOTS BY PERIOD:
MCG: 18 - 10 - 13 -- 41
BRO: 6 - 8 - 8 -- 22

GOALS BY PERIOD:
MCG: 2 - 0 - 2 -- 4
BRO: 0 - 0 - 2 -- 2

POWER PLAY CONVERSION:
McGill 0-6.
Brock 1-6.

PENALTIES (No./Mins.):
McGill 6-12.
Brock 8-32.

GOALTENDERS:
McGill
Kevin Desfosses [W, 1-1-0, 60:00, SV: 20, GA: 2]


Brock
Tommy Lee [L, 0-5-0, 59:48, SV: 37, GA: 3]
Empty-net [0;12, GA: 0]



Start : 7:35 PM
End : 9:43 PM
Attendance : 333
Referee: Bill Smith

MOLSON CUP THREE STARS:
---------------------------------
1. Francis Verrault-Paul, McGill
2. Kevin Desfosses, McGill
3. Andrew Wright, McGill


McGILL LINEUP SCRATCHES:
---------------------------------
G Jake Jarvis
G Danny Mireault (dressed but DNP)
G Hubert Morin
D Stephen Valente
D Spencer Brennan
D Glenn Tindle
F Evan Vossen (injd)
F Benoit Arsenault (eye injury)
F Tim Drager


SOURCE:

Earl Zukerman
Communications Officer & Webmaster
Dept. of Athletics
McGill University
475 Pine Avenue W.
Montreal, Que. H2W 1S4

(514) 398-7012 (tel.)
(514) 398-1956 (fax)
earl.zukerman [at] mcgill.ca
www.athletics.mcgill.ca