The Carr-Harris Cup was created to celebrate the oldest sport rivalry in Canada between the Queen’s Gaels and the RMC Paladins.
This year celebrated the 37th iteration of the game with a 5-2 Gaels win over the Paladins on Feb. 6. For a rivalry dating all the way back to 1886, there may be some questions about how passionate players could be, however this game put all doubt to rest.
Entering the game, Queen’s ranked seventh in the country and sat second in the OUA. Their opponent, RMC had won just one game this season, sitting dead-last in the OUA and the nation.
Despite sitting on opposite ends of the ledger, the energy in the stadium was still palpable as fans from both sides cheered for the puck drop.
The first period was relatively tame, both teams getting shots on goal but not finding a way through either end. A tripping penalty on Nolan Hutcheson, ArtSci ’25, put the Paladins on the power play first, but they were unable to convert.
Hutcheson remedied his mistake with the first goal of the game halfway through the first, assisted by Cameron Tolnai, Comm ’27.
Queen’s would find themselves on the power play just 11 seconds later, Daniel Michaud, ArtSci ’27, taking full advantage, converting a minute in, assisted by Michael Renwick, ArtSci ’27, and Derek Hamilton, ArtSci ’27.
In the second, a Sam Marburg, ArtSci ’27, goal in the eighth minute assisted by Hutcheson and Owen Lalonde, ArtSci ’25, put the Gaels comfortably ahead. The goal also seemed to be a spark for RMC who began to attempt to get under the team’s skin.
A roughing penalty from RMC in the 11th minute would provoke a roughing and tripping penalty from Queen’s. Followed only a minute after their expiration with goaltender interference call provoking two additional majors for fighting.
Another goal from Tolnai would be the catalyst the teams needed to begin a scrum that would see two players from both sides receiving game misconduct penalties with an additional penalty on Queen’s for cross-checking.
On the ensuing power-play, RMC would score, but a tripping call would allow Hutcheson to score a power play goal of own, his 19th goal, and 27th point of the season.
Seven seconds before time expired in the second, RMC would slot one past the Gaels, the last goal of the game.
Despite no scoring in the third, the aggression would continue, both teams continuing to trade penalties, including a game misconduct against RMC with six minutes left in the game. Cumulatively contributing to 21 penalties and five game misconducts for both teams.
“Every time we play those guys, it’s always pretty physical, and the crowd was pretty, pretty awesome tonight, so we wanted to put on a little bit of show for them,” Lalonde said in an interview with The Journal. A huge part of the team’s dominate performance was their effectiveness on the powerplay, a strength for the team this season.
“We’ve built some pretty good chemistry, the five of us out there. We just kind of know where each other is going to be. We move it good and we just kind of look for each other and don’t stay too stagnant,” Lalonde added.
For an intense game, it takes a lot of intention to keep a level head and stay concentrated.
“[It takes] lots of breathing and then lots of meditating as well. And just moving around the ice, pretending, just simulating those plays coming down, so when they do come down, be ready for them,” goaltender Christian Purboo, ArtSci ’25, said.
However, despite the scrappy opponent and intense emotions, it’s what draws a lot of players to the program and to play the best they can.
“One of the main reasons I came to Queen’s was the tradition. So, I mean, seeing this good crowd tonight, so hopefully that just continues,” Hutcheson said.
Tags
Carr-Harris Cup, Christian Purboo, Nolan Hutcheson, Owen Lalonde, RMC Paladins
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