The UQTR Patriotes men’s hockey team marched into Concordia’s Ed Meagher Arena last Friday night with a 10-0-1 record, the best in the OUA Hockey League.
They left humbled by the Concordia Stingers’ hockey team, who only needed one period of play to show that they were prepared and ready to play in a 4-1 win.
All the scoring for this game came in the opening period as the Stingers took advantage of their power plays and were able to lean on reliable goaltender Philippe Ozga, who was virtually unbeatable.
Chris Page, who possesses one of the hottest sticks in the league at the moment, opened the scoring just over seven minutes into the game for his twelfth goal of the year, deflecting a shot on a power play and making it 1-0 for the Stingers.
However, just six minutes later the Patriotes tied the game on a power play of their own when Alexandre Tremblay, the league’s leading scorer, walked in front of the net and ripped a shot over Ozga’s left shoulder.
If there was anyone at Ed Meagher Arena who thought this was the beginning of the end of Concordia’s brief hopes of keeping up with the Patriotes, they would soon be in for a reality check.
The Stingers erupted for three goals in less than three minutes to take a commanding lead.
The route started with the team’s second power play marker when rookie Yannick Noiseux took a splendid pass from linemate Edin Burazerovic and easily beat the UQTR goalie for a 2-1 lead.
Less than two minutes later it would be Burazerovic on the receiving end when Noiseux feathered a pass across the ice that somehow eluded the UQTR defenceman in its path. From there, Burazerovic walked in a blasted shot through the netminder.
The icing on the cake came 50 seconds later when Page added his second goal of the game after coming from behind and stealing the puck from a Patriote, bringing it out of the zone.
Page then unloaded a rocket to the top corner that the goalie never had a chance of stopping.
But credit must be given where it’s due.
While the Stinger forwards were busy shooting out the lights, Ozga remained stellar in nets, stopping several difficult and tricky shots that UQTR tested him with.
Although Concordia would get its chances to increase their lead through the next two periods of play, most of the best opportunities went to the visiting team.
Fortunately for the Stingers, despite being charged with nine penalties in the last two periods combined, were able to weather the storm with Ozga stopping every shot from every angle.
Concordia’s penalty-killing units were out in full force, especially when Concordia was charged with consecutive delay of game penalties just 23 seconds apart late in the third period.
Although it seemed inevitable that the highly-touted UQTR forwards would get the job done, they obviously had not counted on Stinger captain Patrice Roy.
He showed true leadership by stepping in front of five shots by the UQTR offence and helping kill-off both penalties.
“I just try to stay focused and block any shot I can,” Roy said.
“It was the biggest win of 2002 so far,” said Coach Kevin Figsby, who credited his players with sticking to the game plan.
“If we play that way after the break we’re going to have a hell of a season by the end of the year.”
The Stingers will have some time to relish this victory, as they will only be back in OUA competitive hockey games in January.
