RMC Hockey Game Reports

GAME REPORTS

20 Feb

RMC 7 Ryerson 6 OT     stats     RMC Press Release

RMC closed out the regular season by collecting 3 of 4 possible points against the University of Toronto and Ryerson. After clinching a playoff spot with yesterdays OT loss against the U of T, the Paladins beat Ryerson 7-6 in OT in the final regular season game. Kelly Nobes gave Blair Robertson the night off, and gave back-up goalie Mike Hughes his first career start in the CIS. Prior to this game Hughes had only played 40 minutes in relief of Robertson on the season.

RMC came out looking like a team that was content with making the playoffs, while Ryerson was carrying momentum after their first wind of the season last night against Queens. The Rams surprised the Paladins by jumping out to a 2-0 lead before the game was 7 minutes old. Roman Srutek closed the score to 2-1 with a goal at 12:25 but Ryerson regained their two goal lead just 11 seconds later to make it 3-1. The period ended 3-1 in favour of the Rams despite being out shot by RMC 12-10.

The second period again started off slowly for RMC. Down 5 on 3 for 2 full minutes the Paladins gave up a power play goal at 6:37. Less than a minute later Ryerson increased their lead to 5-1 on an even strength goal. This was the biggest lead ever of the season for Ryerson. Finally RMC woke up and took advantage of some power play opportunities late in the period. Ryan McInearny closed the gap to 5-2 with a power play goal at 18:39 and then less than 30 seconds later at 19:02 Brent Maurice notched another power play goal to make it 5-3 going into the third. In the period RMC out shot Ryerson 13-9.

The third period saw a much better RMC team as it looked like they were ready for some playoff action. At 6:05 Dion Lahoda made it a one goal game with a power play marker and then at 10:29 Lahoda notched his second power play goal to tie the game. The Paladins had a great chance to secure the victory as they were given a 5 power play with less than two minutes left in the game, when a Ryerson player was charged with a hitting from behind major but they received a huge scare as Ryerson scored a short handed goal with only 28 seconds left to take the lead. It looked like RMC was going to give Ryerson their second win of the season when Roman Srutek notched his second goal of the game with 12 seconds left to send it to overtime.

With the major carrying over into the extra period RMC started the frame with the man advantage and made Ryerson pay as team captain Pat MacDonald notched the game winner at 1:57 of the extra period to give RMC their 8th victory of the season. In the third period and overtime RMC outshot Ryerson 23-8.

The Paladins were led offensively by Tyler Middlebrook who assisted on 5 goals and Dion Lahoda who had a goal and an assist. They outshot Ryerson 48-27 on the game. RMC went 6 for 8 on the power play giving up a short handed goal and killed 5 of 6 short handed situations.

19 Feb
U of T 5 RMC 4 OT     stats
   RMC clinched second place in the OUA Mid East and the final playoff spot in the OUA East Division with despite a 5-4 OT loss to the U of T. RMCs 6th OT loss of the year, and second to Toronto, secured them one point giving them 20 points on the season, a point total Queens cannot match.
   The first period saw the Paladins come out storming as the wanted to win the game to secure their playoff destiny. In the period they out shot the Varsity Blues 12-6 but only managed a 1-1 tie after 20 minutes. The Varsity Blues opened the scoring at 6:25, but the Paladins bounced back with Nick Cregan netting a goal at 13:25 to even the score.
   The second period featured a tight checking game. The Varsity Blues regained their one goal lead at 13:23 but RMC bounced right back 14 seconds later when Luke Pierce found the back of the net.
   The third period saw the Paladins really pour it on. However it was the Varsity Blues who struck first at 2:22 to go up 3-2. Adrian Hartley answered for RMC at 6:53 to tie the game and then at 12:15 Brent Maurice put the Paladins up 4-3 with a booming point shot. It looked like that score would hold, however with the goalie pulled for an extra attacker, the Varsity Blues tied the game with 40 seconds left in regulation. Much to the disappointment of the large number of RMC fans.
   In OT Pat MacDonald was nabbed for a hooking call just 29 seconds into the period to give the Varsity Blues the man advantage. A gracious call at 1:01 evened things up at 4 skaters aside, but it was the Varsity Blues who took advantage of the 4 on 4 play as the scored at 1:32 to get the win.
   Adrian Hartley who had a goal and an assist for two points led the Paladins who out shot the U of T 32-29. Both teams went 0 for 6 with the man advantage. The OT loss was RMCs sixth of the season. RMC was without two key players as both Tyler McTavish and Louis Charland did not dress for tonights game.
   RMC will now take on the Concordia University Stingers in a best of 3 Division Quarter Finals. They will travel to Montreal on Wednesday 23 Feb for game one and then host the Stingers for Game 2 on Friday 25 Feb at Constantine Arena at 1900. Game 3, if necessary, will be Sunday afternoon back in Montreal. In the other Quarter Finals Ottawa will face the U of T, while the first and second place teams, McGill and UQTR, will have first round byes.