±«ÓãÖ±²¥

By Earl Zukerman

MONTREAL – Rookie rearguard Marc-Andre Dorion of St. Hubert, Que., set up three goals as ±«ÓãÖ±²¥ 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 ±«ÓãÖ±²¥ bench and improved his overall coaching record to 278-187-35. He ranks second among all coaches in ±«ÓãÖ±²¥ 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 ±«ÓãÖ±²¥ (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.

±«ÓãÖ±²¥, 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 ±«ÓãÖ±²¥ 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.

±«ÓãÖ±²¥, 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 ±«ÓãÖ±²¥ 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 ±«ÓãÖ±²¥ 5

(Jan 24, 2009 @ McConnell Arena)

FIRST PERIOD:
Scoring -
1. Ottawa, Mathieu Desjardins (3) (Y. Charron, D. McDonald) 3:28
2. ±«ÓãÖ±²¥, Alexandre Picard-Hooper (7) (K. Morin, M.A. Dorion) 7:21 (PP)
3. ±«ÓãÖ±²¥, 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. ±«ÓãÖ±²¥, Francis Verrault-Paul (9) (V. Lambert, M.A. Dorion) 3:53
6. ±«ÓãÖ±²¥, Guillaume Doucet (6) (V. Lambert, E. Litalien) 9:51
7. ±«ÓãÖ±²¥, 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.
±«ÓãÖ±²¥ 1-4.

PENALTIES (No/Mins):
Ottawa 5-10
±«ÓãÖ±²¥ 6-12


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


±«ÓãÖ±²¥
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, ±«ÓãÖ±²¥
2. Sam Bloom, ±«ÓãÖ±²¥
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