The Paladins Hockey Team continued its strong play with another 3-Point Weekend, moving into a First-Place tie with Queen’s in the OUA Mid-East Division, and 3rd overall in the OUA.
With Sunday’s win over Concordia, RMC got to 8 points through 6 games, already eclipsing last year’s season total of 7 points. RMC remains one of only 2 teams in the CIS without a regulation loss, with #2 Saskatchewan and #6 Western being the others.
UQTR 4, RMC 3 (OT)
The Paladins continued their point streak, taking the #8-ranked UQTR Patriotes to OT, and improving to a total of 6 points after 5 games.
RMC’s relentlessly gritty yet disciplined play led to several Power Play opportunities, as the Patriotes came emotionally unglued in the First Period. After UQTR took advantage of a fortuitous bounce to bet a shorthanded marker early in the period, Adrian Hartley (Welland Cougars, GHJHL) responded with his 3rd goal of the season after a gorgeous cross-crease feed from MBA Student Tyler Middlebrook. The Patriotes again took the lead when a point shot hit a leg in front, redirecting into the top of the net. Although the Paladins had several great opportunities late in the period, 2004 OUA East MVP goalie Dany Dallaire was equal to the task, and UQTR took a 2-1 lead into the dressing room.
The Second Period saw UQTR enjoy a few PowerPlays, but it was RMC who struck first when Roman Srutek (Kanata Stallions, CJHL) buried his 2nd goal of the season on a slapshot from the point. Again, the Patriotes took the lead on a goal-mouth scramble on the PowerPlay, after Paladins netminder Blair Robertson (Quesnel Millionaires, BCHL) had robbed UQTR snipers on several glorious chances. The highlight of the second period was Team Captain Pat McDonald’s bone-crushing hit on UQTR Defenceman Louis Mandeville. While on the PowerPlay, Mandeville circled behind the net, relentlessly pursued by Tyler McTavish. “Mac” hovered at the Blue Line, and seeing the lumbering Defenceman with his head down, took three powerful strides into Mandeville that placed the UQTR blue-liner on his rear-end, rattled the boards, and brought the crowd to its feet.
Heading into the 3rd down a goal, RMC wasted no time evening the score when the hard work of Nick Cregan (Cumberland Grads, CJHL), Tyler McTavish (St Thomas Stars, WOJHL) and Pat McDonald (Olds Grizzlys, AJHL) led to Cregan’s first goal of the season. The remainder of the 3rd Period was scoreless, although the Paladins carried the majority of the play.
Overtime saw a great display of hockey on both sides, and RMC again narrowly missed a couple of glorious opportunities to finish the Patriotes off, before a flukey goal with 1.8 seconds remaining sent UQTR home with the extra point.
After a disappointing last-second loss on Saturday, the Paladins were very focused on the task at hand against Concordia on Sunday. A quiet confidence filled the RMC dressing room, and carried on to the ice as the Paladins came out strong against a skilled Stingers squad.
Rookie Dion Lahoda (Merritt Centennials, BCHL) led the charge in the First Period, netting two goals. Fellow rookie Josh Fudge’s (Nepean Raiders, CJHL) hard work led to the first marker, when Lahoda took a solid pass from Fudge, kicked it to his stick, and one-timed a low shot into the net. Later, after Concordia had knotted the game at 1-1. Lahoda redirected Roman Srutek’s (Kanata Stallions, CJHL) point shot on the PowerPlay to give RMC a 2-1 lead that would not be relinquished.
Starting the Second Period in a 4-on-4 situation, the Paladins got off to a very quick start, scoring but 9 seconds into the middle frame. After winning the draw, Tyler McTavish charged hard to the net, and buried a lovely pass from rookie Ian Miller (Hamilton, ON) to give RMC a 3-1 lead.
The remainder of the game saw RMC kill off countless Concordia Power Plays, including two 5-on-3 disadvantages for over a minute each. RMC’s Penalty Kill remains the best in the OUA, however, at a sparkling 96%, as RMC killed off 12 Stinger Power Plays on the night. Although Concordia crept to within one late in the Third, RMC was not to be denied their second victory of the season.
Leading the charge for the Paladins this weekend was rookie Roman Srutek (1G, 2A), whose points all came on the Power Play, as RMC buried 4 PP Goals on the weekend. Srutek’s linemates Dion Lahoda (2G) and Josh Fudge (1A) were key to RMC’s success, as their all-rookie unit shows the depth of this year’s team. Tyler Middlebrook (2A) continues to be at the top of the OUA scoring race, while Team Captain Pat McDonald laid a couple of devastating hits to set a strong physical tone to both games.
On the blueline, veteran Jamie Routledge had a very strong performance on Sunday, and Todd Simpson (Cumberland Grads, CJHL) also played well, including a crushing hit to open Saturday’s game against UQTR. Logging their usual strong minutes were Assistant Captain Adrian Hartley (1G) and rookie Ian Miller (1A).
Blair Robertson stopped 33 of 35 shots on Sunday against Concordia, including a huge glove save on a Stinger breakaway late in the game that keyed the Paladins victory.