Games end in shootouts, with win over #2 Montreal, loss to Ravens
The eighth-ranked Gee-Gees women’s hockey team has had their best season in recent history, which came to a close with games against conference foes Montreal and Carleton.
The team played their final matchup against nationally ranked competition when they welcomed the second-ranked Montreal Carabins to the Minto Sports Complex on Feb. 19.
The Carabins stormed out of the gates, finding the back of the net on two shots early in the first period.
A trademark of the Gee-Gees team this season has been their ability to fight back when behind. They stayed true to form when Vickie Lemire capitalized on a powerplay in the final minutes of the first to get the Gees on the board.
Shortly after, the Gee-Gees scored again as Véronik Samson’s goal tied the game at two.
Minutes later, Montreal regrouped and retook the lead, one that would be secure until the final seconds of the game.
During a scoreless third period, the outlook appeared to be grim for the Gee-Gees. With 44 seconds left on the clock, Carol-Ann Upshall jumped on a rebound from Carabins goaltender and fired it home to tie the game and send it to overtime.
After a scoreless overtime period, the teams prepared for a shootout. Cindy Laurin and Mélodie Bouchard both scored for the Gee-Gees in the shootout and propelled the team to the 4-3 victory in their final home game of the regular season.
On Feb. 21, the Gees travelled across the city to take on the Carleton Ravens in the regular season finale.
There was no scoring in the first period, however both offensive sides were kick-started in the second. The Ravens and Gee-Gees traded back-and-forth goals, resulting in a 2-2 tie heading into the final frame.
Upshall improved upon her impressive scoring record this season with a go-ahead goal for the Gees in the third. Minutes later, the Ravens tied the game up and it would stay knotted through the end of regulation and overtime.
For the second time in the weekend, the Gee-Gees went into a shootout. The teams went on to battle through an exhausting 14 rounds of the shootout before Carleton scored the winner.
The loss doesn’t heavily affect the Gee-Gees, as they finish with an 11-6-3 record on the year.
The team finished third in the conference, and will advance to a “best 2-of-3” series with the nationally third-ranked McGill Martlets, a team they’ve found some success against, tallying a 2-2-1 record against them this season.
The series gets underway on Feb. 25 at 7 p.m. in Montreal, before the teams head to the Minto Sports Complex on Feb. 27 also at 7 p.m.
