The Concordia women’s hockey team was shut out for the second consecutive game Friday night at McConnell Arena, this time dropping a 3-0 decision to their fierce rivals, the McGill Martlets.
The loss dropped the second place Lady Bees league record to 8-4-0.
The contest was preceded by a fifteen-minute ceremony to honour McGill’s star goalie Kim St. Pierre’s recent career accomplishments.
A banner was raised, a first at the McConnell Arena, to recognize St Pierre’s splendid career as a Martlet and Canadian National Team member.
The Salt Lake City gold medallist and two-time world champion spent the next sixty minutes reminding the Lady Bees’ forwards why she deserved such an honour.
She stopped all 48 Concordia shots to earn her fifth consecutive shutout and her ninth of the season.
Concordia should not feel bad about coming up empty.
The Martlets have not allowed a goal in over 311 minutes of hockey, an eternity by anyone’s standards.
At first glance some might attribute this streak to some great defence, but in McGill’s case it’s all about the goaltending
The Lady Bees had numerous chances to break the shut out streak.
The biggest opportunity came in the second period when forward Kelly Sudia broke away from a McGill defender at the blue line and went in one on one with St. Pierre.
The hardest part for Sudia was the forty feet of ice she had in front of her to think about her next move on one of the best goalies in the world.
“I had so much time to think about the move I was going to use,” Sudia said.
“I faked left and went right and kept it on the ice because I know she often leaves a gap in the five hole when she goes down.”
This time, the five hole was closed as St Pierre made a nice save with her right pad.
At the other end of the ice, Concordia goaltender Jessica Anderson put in her regular solid effort, stopping 25 of 28 McGill shots.
Unfortunately, McGill scored their first goal with only 11 seconds remaining in the first period.
Martlet forward Suzanne Fujiki wired a wrist shot from the top of the circle past Anderson’s glove.
McGill forwards Justine Keyserlingk and Katherine Safka added a goal each in the third period, providing insurance and sealing the deal.
After the game, Concordia Head Coach Les Lawton spoke about the importance of getting on the board early in order to gain confidence.
“It’s so important to get that first goal, early and not to panic, Kim [St. Pierre] is so strong for them, she makes it very difficult to catch up.”
Even with the loss, the coach was happy with his team’s showing.
“I’m extremely happy with the way we played, I thought that it was one of our better efforts this year and I don’t think we have anything to hang our heads about,” said Lawton.
Veteran forward Marie Claude Allard echoed her coache’s sentiments and had an optimistic outlook for the next time the Stingers face St. Pierre and her crew.
“We all played really good, we pressured them all game, we shot on her, we screened her, we did a lot but we didn’t try everything, we can still do better and we will next time,” Allard explained.
Allard and company will get their chance Jan. 10, when St. Pierre and the rest of the Martlets pay a visit to the Ed Meagher Arena.