Undefeated Redmen topple Toronto, stretch streak to 14
Ìý
Marc-Andre Dorion (centre) scored McGill's fifth shorthanded goal in nine games. Photo by Andrew Dobrowolskyj.
Ìý
Ìý
MONTREAL - Third-year forward Francis Verreault-Paul and Guillaume Doucet, a senior from Anjou, Que., each tallied twice as No.2-ranked McGill toppled the Toronto Varsity Blues 9-2 in an OUA men's hockey game before 710 fans at McConnell Arena, Friday.
Ìý
The victory improved McGill's record to 14-0 overall, including a 9-0 mark in regular season play. It was McGill's seventh win in eight meetings against U of T.
Ìý
Verreault-Paul, a 5-foot-10, 180-pound powder-keg from Mashteuiatsh, Que., had nine shots on net and registered points on the first three goals. His opening marker only 56 seconds into the game, was his 100th career point in regular season play for McGill and he now has 53 goals and 49 assists in 60 OUA contests since joining the Redmen out of the QMJHL's Chicoutimi Sagueneens in 2008. The red-hot sniper has 12 goals in his last five contests and leads the OUA scoring race with a 15-7-22 record in only nine games.
Ìý
McGill led 2-0 after the opening period and 7-2 after two before head coach Kelly Nobes appeared to call off the dogs. The fourth-line trio -- composed of centre Christophe Longpre-Poirier in addition to wingers Jean-Francois Boisvert and Dan Conacher -- accounted for nine points in the game, each of them with a goal and two assists.
Ìý
"That line was outstanding tonight," said Nobes, a former Redmen star from the mid-1990s who is in his first-year behind the Redmen bench. "They executed a key faceoff play to perfection and provided energy and enthusiasm. Longpre-Poirier is a very versatile player, is vocal on the bench, and is emerging as a leader. He is the glue to that line but we don't really have a fourth line. It's obvious that we have a No.1 line (Verreault-Paul, Alex Picard-Hooper and Andrew Wright) but I consider the other three lines to be relatively equal and it's kind of like we have three No.2 lines."
Ìý
In all, seven Redmen players scored in the contest and 10 of their 18 skaters who dressed, got on the scoresheet, including nine who registered two points (or more).
Ìý
Other McGill marksmen included all-Canadian defenceman Marc-Andre Dorion (shorthanded) of St. Hubert, Que., and Andrew Wright of Toronto.
Ìý
Dorion, who participated in the Toronto Maple Leafs rookie camp in early September, had three points and is currently the top-scoring rearguard in the nation with 4-15-19 in nine contests. His shorthanded effort was McGill's fifth "shortie" of the season, which matches UQTR for tops in the nation. McGill led the nation last year with a single-season school record of 11 SHGs.
Ìý
After Dorion scored to put McGill ahead 6-1, the Blues appeared more interested in causing mayhem but the Redmen refused to bite and both sides ended up with eight minor penalties apiece.
Ìý
"We had a 45-minute video session about discipline and self-control at practice the other day," said Nobes. "And I was impressed with the way our guys kept their cool, especially in the third period. It's an absolute must in order to be a championship team."
Ìý
Blake Boddy of Ajax, Ont., and Kyle Ventura of Scarborough, replied for the Varsity Blues, who are ninth in the 10-team OUA East with a 2-3-3 record.
Ìý
McGill held a lopsided 52-26 margin in shots on net as Hubert Morin, a third-year goaltender from St. Georges de Beauce, Que., battled through a pregame illness and registered the win, improving his record to 6-0. Blues senior Andrew Martin started a took the loss. He was chased after McGill jumped into a 4-0 lead on 21 shots, early in the second period and replaced by Garrett Sheehan of Cremonia, Alta., who was beaten five times on 31 shots.
Ìý
The Blues travel to second-place Carleton (6-1-2) on Saturday, while McGill (9-0) will host the sixth-place Nipissing Lakers (4-3-2), who upset UQTR 3-2 on Friday, their second consecutive win over the Patriotes. A victory over Nipissing on Saturday (7 pm) would match McGill's best-ever regular season start, equaling the achievements of the 1939-40 Redmen, who finished league play at 10-0 that year.
Ìý
REDMEN RAP: With 59 goals in nine games, McGill leads the nation in scoring...The next closest team is Alberta, with 41 markers in eight games... The McGill-Toronto rivalry is the fourth oldest in Canadian university hockey... At one time in history, the Varsity Blues thoroughly dominated the Redmen and despite McGill's recent successes (24-8-4 since 1996) the Blues still hold a 120-81-15 record against McGill in 216 lifetime meetings dating back to 1899.
Ìý
SOURCE:
Earl Zukerman
McGill Athletics & Recreation
514-398-7012
m.athletics.mcgill.ca (mobile website)
Ìý
Ìý
SCORING SUMMARY
Toronto 2 at McGill 9
Friday, November 5, 2010 - McConnell Arena
Ìý
1st Period-
1, McGill, Francis Verreault-Paul 14 (A. Picard-Hooper, A. Wright), 0:56.
2, McGill, Francis Verreault-Paul 15 (A. Picard-Hooper), 7:34.
Ìý
Penalties-
Conacher Mcg (hooking), 13:01;
Doucet Mcg (inter. on goaltender), 15:51.
Ìý
2nd Period-
3, McGill, Andrew Wright 5 (F. Verreault-Paul, A. Picard-Hooper), 1:55.
4, McGill, Christophe Longpre-Poirier 2 (J.F. Boisvert, D. Conacher), 3:11.
5, Toronto, Blake Boddy 4 (A. Bergin), 7:38.
6, McGill, Guillaume Doucet 3 (M.A. Dorion, S. Marcotte-Legare), 12:41 (PP).
7, McGill, Marc-Andre Dorion 4 (M. Langelier-Parent, M.A. Daneau), 17:57 (SH).
8, Toronto, Kyle Ventura 2 (B. Boddy, S. Kliewer), 18:18 (PP).
9, McGill, Jean-Francois Boisvert 3 (D. Conacher, C. Longpre-Poirier), 19:01.
Ìý
Penalties-
Walters Tor (slashing), 4:46;
Dupont Tor (holding), 9:00;
Kliewer Tor (slashing), 10:26;
Brewer Tor (hooking), 11:09;
Kliewer Tor (hooking), 14:14;
Vossen Mcg (roughing), 17:27.
Ìý
3rd Period-
10, McGill, Guillaume Doucet 4 (Daneau, Dorion), 8:13.
11, McGill, Daniel Conacher 1 (Boisvert, Longpre-Poirier), 13:52.
Ìý
Penalties-
Teich Tor (tripping), 2:46;
Conacher Mcg (cross checking), 9:15;
Daneau Mcg (tripping), 10:30;
Dorion Mcg (slashing), 11:43;
Ventura Tor (hooking), 13:29;
Picard-Hooper Mcg (slashing), 13:29;
Genest Mcg (interference), 14:01;
Teich Tor (charging), 19:59.
Ìý
GOALS BY PERIOD:
Toronto 0-2-0 -- 2
McGill 2-5-2 -- 9
Ìý
Shots on Goal-
Toronto 11-6-9 -- 26.
McGill 17-20-15 -- 52.
Ìý
Power Play Opportunities-
Toronto 1 / 7 (one SHG against)
McGill 1 / 7
Ìý
Goalies-
Toronto,
Andrew Martin (Start, L, 2-5-0, 21 shots-17 saves; 23:11);
Garrett Sheehan (ND, 31 shots-26 saves; 36:49).
Ìý
McGill,
Hubert Morin (W, 6-0-0, 26 shots-24 saves; 60:00).
Ìý
Att-710
Ìý
Referee-Mathieu Bergeron.
Ìý
Start: 7:02 pm
End: 9:26 pm
Duration: 2:24
Ìý
MOLSON CUP THREE STARS
1. Francis Verreault-Paul, McGill
2. Guillaume Doucet, McGill
3. Marc-Andre Dorion, McGill
Ìý