Verreault-Paul to the rescue as Redmen break 74-year-old record
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TORONTO - Francis Verreault-Paul of Mashteuiatsh, Que., scored twice, including the game-winner at 8:27 of the third period as No.2-ranked McGill escaped with a 3-2 victory over the York Lions in CIS men's university hockey, Friday.
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It was the 18th consecutive victory overall for the Redmen, including non-conference play, breaking a 74-year old school record for most consecutive wins, dating back to the 1936-37 season. It also marked McGill's 10th straight road win, counting a pair of "home" games played on neutral ice, which surpasses the team record of nine set in the same 1936-37 campaign.
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Christophe Longpre-Poirier of Longueuil, Que., opened the scoring for the Redmen, with his fifth marker of the season at 15:47 of the first frame.
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"He won a faceoff deep in his own zone and quickly worked a give-and-go with linemates J.F. Boisvert and Patrick Belzile," said Redmen head coach Kelly Nobes. "Chris regained the puck at our blueline and skated through the entire York team to score a Bobby Orr-like goal. It was a work of art."
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Verreault-Paul made it 2-0 before the two-minute mark of the middle period and later made it 3-1 at 8:27 of the final stanza. It was his CIS-leading 20th goal in only 11 games played.
The Redmen had two goals called back in the final period when the York net came off its moorings. They also missed another golden opportunity when Longpre-Poirier was awarded a penalty shot with McGill ahead 2-1 midway through the second period but York rookie netminder Travis Rolheiser of Edmonton stood his ground.
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Freshman Antoine Tardif, a native of Daveluyville, Que., who tended goal for the QMJHL's Quebec Remparts last year, made 27 saves between the pipes for the Redmen, including a couple of key ones with the York net empty in the final minute. It was easily the best outing of the season for Tardif, who improved his unblemished record to 5-0.
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Mackenzie Micks, a sophomore from Orillia, Ont., tallied twice for the Lions, who had a 29-20 edge in shots - including a 15-5 margin in the final period - becoming the first team to outshoot McGill this season.
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McGill, which sits atop the OUA East Division with a 13-0 record, play the Brock University Badgers in St. Catharines, Ont., Saturday afternoon at 3:15 p.m. Brock owns a 4-4-4 record after exploding for five goals in the third period to surprise visiting Concordia 8-2 on Friday.
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The Lions (4-9-0) will look to snap a five-game losing skid on Saturday evening when they host Ottawa (7-3-2).
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REDMEN RAP: ÌýThe Redmen and Lions did not meet last season but the win snapped McGill's two-game losing streak to York... McGill now owns a lifetime18-10-6 lifetime record in head-to-head matchups against York.
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SCORING SUMMARY
McGill 3 at York 2
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(Friday, November 19, 2010 - Canlan Ice Sports Palace)
1st Period-
1, McGill, Christophe Longpre-Poirier 5 (P. Belzile, J.F. Boisvert), 15:47.
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Penalties-
Grespan Yor (tripping), 7:59;
Marcotte-Legare Mcg (roughing), 13:47;
Kerr Yor (roughing), 13:47;
Morse Mcg (hooking), 16:16;
Gill Yor (cross checking), 16:16;
Langelier-Parent Mcg (hooking), 17:58.
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2nd Period-
2, McGill, Francis Verreault-Paul 19 (A. Picard-Hooper, A. Wright) 1:23 (PP).
3, York, Mackenzie Micks 6 (unassisted)Ìý 10:40 (PP).
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Penalties-
Hohmann Yor (checking to the head, 10-minute misconduct), 0:47;
Micks Yor (hooking), 1:23;
Wright Mcg (tripping), 1:37;
Belzile Mcg (boarding), 10:35;
Dorion Mcg (10-minute misconduct), 12:48;
Hohmann Yor (10-minute misconduct), 12:48;
Lamb Yor (hooking: PENALTY SHOT missed by Longpre-Poirier), 13:42;
Thomson Yor (high sticking), 14:04;
Labute Yor (high sticking), 18:29.
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3rd Period-
4, McGill, Francis Verreault-Paul 20 (A. Picard-Hooper, A. Wright), 8:27.
5, York, Mackenzie Micks 7 (Ben Alavie), 16:10.
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Penalties-
Daneau Mcg (slashing), 4:41;
Boisvert Mcg (checking from behind, game misconduct), 10:11;
Levesque Mcg (boarding), 11:03.
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SCORING BY PRIOD:
McGill 1-1-1 -- 3
York 0-1-1 -- 2
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Shots on Goal-
McGill 5-10-5 -- 20.
York 8-7-14 -- 29.
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Power Play Opportunities-
McGill 1 / 5;
York 1 / 6.
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Penalties (No./Mins.)-
McGill 10 / 36;
York 10 / 36.
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Goalies-
McGill, Antoine Tardif (W, 5-0-0, 29 shots-27 saves, 60:00).
York, Travis Rolheiser (L, 1-4-0, 20 shots-17 saves; 58:48).
Att-150
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Referee-Ryan Carroll.
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Start: 7:00 pm
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End: 9:10 pm
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Duration: 2:10
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MOLSON CUP THREE STARS:
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1. Francis Verreault-Paul, McGill
2. Antoine Tardif, McGill
3. Christophe Longpre-Poirier, McGill
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SOURCE:
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Communications Officer
Athletics & Recreation
Ï㽶ÊÓƵ
475 Pine Avenue W., Room 225 B
Montreal, QCÌý H2W 1S4
CANADA
514-398-7012 (Tel.)
514-398-1956 (Fax)
m.athletics.mcgill.ca (mobile website)
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