Men’s hockey continues to struggle

Women shut out York 5-0, lose at home to Toronto

Blake Pronk
Image by: Joshua Chan
Blake Pronk

It was a less than stellar weekend for both the women’s and men’s hockey teams. The women beat the York Lions 5-0 but fell to the University of Toronto Varsity Blues 2-1, while the men lost to both the Blues and the Ryerson Rams.

The women’s team started off their weekend well, pummeling York University 5-0 in Toronto Friday night. Goaltender Katie Boyd made 32 saves to record the shutout for Queen’s, who outshot York 37-32.

Forward Liz Kench scored the Gaels’ first two goals with assists from linemates Amanda Morra and Andrea LeBlanc. Morra, Kelsey Thomson and Becky Conroy added goals for the Gaels, who scored three times on their eight power-play chances.

Head coach Rob Lalonde said the line of Kench, Morra and LeBlanc was just put together, but he likes the way it’s working.

“Morra and LeBlanc provide a lot of energy and get Kench the puck,” he said. “They can make things happen with anyone.”

Back at the Memorial Centre on Saturday night, the women lost a close 2-1 game to the University of Toronto.

Captain Cassie Sparks opened the scoring in the first period after she deflected a pass from the slot through the pads of Blues goaltender Stephanie Lockert, but Toronto scored goals in the second and third period to seal the win.

The Gaels were outshot 20-16 on the night.

Lalonde said the main problem the Gaels had against the Blues was generating offence.

“We need to go back to the basics, getting shots from different angles and really driving to the net,” he said.

The men’s team didn’t fare as well. On their weekend road trip to Toronto, they lost 1-0 Friday night against the Blues and 5-3 on Saturday afternoon against Ryerson.

Goaltender Ryan Gibb had a great game against the Blues Friday despite the loss, stopping 38 of the 39 shots he faced. But the Gaels only recorded 16 shots of their own, went 0-5 on the power play and failed to convert on a five-on-three advantage in the second period.

On Saturday captain Jeff Ovens opened the scoring in the first period with assists from Clinton McCullough and Alex Archibald.

The second period was a rough one for the Gaels, who surrendered four goals. Forward Jon Lawrence scored Queen’s lone goal in the second. Early in the third, Ovens got his second of the game to pull Queen’s to within one, but Ryerson scored again to win it 5-3.

Goaltender Brady Morrison made 45 saves for the Gaels, who were outshot 50-32.

Queen’s coach Brett Gibson said he was disappointed with the way the weekend went.

“We don’t mind the outside shots, but in both games we were out-chanced,” he said, adding that Gibb and Ovens both impressed him.

“Gibb is back to his original form. Jeff Ovens really stepped up for us on Saturday and showed why he’s our captain.”

The women travel to Waterloo this weekend to play Wilfred Laurier Saturday afternoon and the University of Waterloo on Sunday afternoon. The men play the second half of their home games with the University of Toronto in Napanee on Friday and Ryerson University at the Memorial Centre on Saturday.

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