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By Earl Zukerman

MONTREAL – Rookie rearguard Marc-Andre Dorion of St. Hubert, Que., set up three goals as McGill skated to a 5-2 home-ice win over the Ottawa Gee-gees in men’s hockey at McConnell Arena, Saturday.

The result marked Martin Raymond’s 500th career contest behind the McGill bench and improved his overall coaching record to 278-187-35. He ranks second among all coaches in McGill sporting history for most games and victories, behind Martlets volleyball mentor Rachèle Béliveau, who has posted 390 wins in 752 career contests.

The victory also moved McGill (11-7-2) out of the cellar in the tightly contested OUA Far East as the Redmen leapfrogged past Ottawa (9-9-4) in the standings. With eight games remaining before playoffs, the Redmen trail second-place Concordia (12-6-4) by four points.

McGill, which trailed 1-0 only three minutes into the game, exploded for three unanswered markers in the final frame, including the game-winner by rookie Francis Verrault-Paul, who notched his ninth of the season with just over 16 minutes remaining.

Other McGill marksmen included freshman Alexandre Picard-Hooper of Boucherville, Que., senior Sam Bloom of Toronto, sophomore Guillaume Doucette of Montreal and co-captain Eric L’Italien of Ste. Foy, Que.

Replying for the Gee-Gees was veteran defenceman Mathieu Desjardins and senior Dan McDonald, whose shorthanded tally knotted the score at 2-2 five minutes into the middle period.

The Redmen had a 33-27 edge in shots as rookie netminder Kevin Desfossés of Beauport, Que., improved his record to 2-1-0. Riley Whitlock, a sophomore from Calgary, took the loss and fell to 9-8-0.

McGill, which entered the contest with the 14th power play in the 18-team league and an equally impotent penalty-kill, went 1-for-4 with the man-advantage and snuffed out all five Gee-gees power plays.

The Redmen will travel to Kingston on Sunday, to take on the RMC Paladins, who have posted a 4-15-1 record under the guidance of head coach Adam Shell, a McGill grad who both played and coached for the Redmen. Also on his staff is assistant coach Chad Blundy, another former Redmen player.


SCORING SUMMARY

Ottawa 2 at McGill 5

(Jan 24, 2009 @ McConnell Arena)

FIRST PERIOD:
Scoring -
1. Ottawa, Mathieu Desjardins (3) (Y. Charron, D. McDonald) 3:28
2. McGill, Alexandre Picard-Hooper (7) (K. Morin, M.A. Dorion) 7:21 (PP)
3. McGill, Sam Bloom (11) (A. Picard-Hooper) 11:17

Penalties -
D. Dhillon Ott (holding) 6:19,
TEAM Mcg (too many men; served by G.Doucet) 9:09

SECOND PERIOD:
Scoring -
4. Ottawa, Dan McDonald (6) (M. Methot) 5:37 (SH)

Penalties -
K. Morin Mcg (hooking) 0:34,
P. Devault Ott (slashing) 4:48,
S. Ashton Ott (holding) 10:07,
E. Stilling Mcg (holding) 13:17,
M. Herard Ott (roughing) 17:27,
M. Dorion Mcg (roughing) 17:27,
R. Gove Ott (hooking) 17:50

THIRD PERIOD:
Scoring -
5. McGill, Francis Verrault-Paul (9) (V. Lambert, M.A. Dorion) 3:53
6. McGill, Guillaume Doucet (6) (V. Lambert, E. Litalien) 9:51
7. McGill, Eric Litalien (8) (S. Marcotte-Legare, M.A. Dorion) 16:59

Penalties -
G. Doucet Mcg (slashing) 7:39,
E. Litalien Mcg (interference) 12:10

SHOTS BY PERIOD:
OTT: 11 - 8 - 8 -- 27
MCG: 9 - 12 - 12 -- 33

GOALS BY PERIOD:
OTT: 1 - 1 - 0 -- 2
MCG: 2 - 0 - 3 -- 5

POWER PLAY CONVERSION:
Ottawa 0-5.
McGill 1-4.

PENALTIES (No/Mins):
Ottawa 5-10
McGill 6-12


Goaltenders
Ottawa
Riley Whitlock [L, 9-8-0, 60:00, SV: 28, GA: 5]


McGill
Kevin Desfosses [W, 2-0-1, 60:00, SV: 25 GA: 2]

Start : 7:01 PM

End : 9:27 PM

Attendance : 397

Referee : Frederic Leblanc


MOLSON CUP THREE STARS:

1. Marc-Andre Dorion, McGill
2. Sam Bloom, McGill
3. Dan McDonald, Ottawa


McGILL LINES:

Doucet - Marcotte-Legare - L Italien
Kovacevic - Picard-Hooper - Bloom
Lambert - Verrault-Paul - Wright
Vossen - Verrilli - Daneau

Morin - Stilling
Turcotte - Dorion
Valente - Gazdic

Desfosses / Mireault


McGILL LINEUP SCRATCHES:

G: Hubert Morin
G Jake Jarvis
G Danny Mireault (dressed but DNP)
D Spencer Brennan
D Ben Morse
D Glenn Tindle
F Benoit Arsenault (eye injury)
F Tim Drager
F Maxime Langelier-Parent