Playoffs are a whole new season, where everything you did in the regular season is moot.
The Gaels squeaked into the playoffs after two massive wins on the road to finish the regular season and leapfrog into sixth place in the OUA East, garnering the last playoff spot available. Their reward: the number seven-ranked team in the country, the McGill Redbirds. The best-of-three series featured Game 1 on Feb. 18 at McGill, Game 2 on Feb. 20 at the Memorial Centre, and a potential Game 3 at McGill on Feb. 22.
In Game 1, the Gaels struck first with a shot from the point tipped by Gaels forward Kolton Cousins, who was streaking to the net. The Redbirds struck back less than two minutes after the first goal of the game, tying it at one. Late in the period, Gaels Aidan Castle, ArtSci ’29, capitalized on the power play, giving Queen’s the lead.
After a back-and-forth first nine minutes of the second period, the Gaels made the Redbirds pay, scoring off a turnover and taking a 3-1 lead. Just under two minutes later, the Gaels added another goal off the stick of Ethan Larmand, ArtSci ’28, to extend the lead to 4-1. However, in the dying seconds of the period, the Redbirds added one on the power play, giving them hope going into the third.
The third period was an all-out attack by the Redbirds, who compiled 22 shots as they tried to claw back into the game. They were no match for Gaels goalie Tanner Wickware, MIR ’26, who ended the game with a sensational 47 saves. Queen’s added two more goals, including an empty-netter, and held back the Redbirds’ pursuit, taking the first game by a score of 6-2.
In Game 2, the Gaels rode the momentum from Game 1, outshooting the Redbirds 26-13 through two periods. Redbirds goalie Nicolas Ruccia bounced back with 41 saves as Queen’s relentless tenacity was evident all game long. Even though the Gaels were winning the shots-on-goal battle, the Redbirds struck first early in the third period.
The Gaels didn’t panic, continuing to play their game and eventually being rewarded. After their forecheck forced a turnover from the Redbirds goaltender, Derek Hamilton, ArtSci ’27, passed to a streaking Michael Renwick, ArtSci ’27, who walked into a one-timer, beating the goalie clean on the far side. The Gaels continued to push but to no avail, and overtime was needed.
Just 2:32 into the overtime period, Hamilton was the overtime hero, capitalizing on a broken play in the slot and sending the Gaels to the quarterfinals.
Head coach Brett Gibson spoke with The Journal about their recent success and upcoming matchup with the Concordia Stingers. Gibson has been emphatic in previous interviews that he believed in his group and that it was only a matter of time until the team played to its full potential.
“We’re playoff tested, it was just a matter if they believed in themselves and now they do and it’s been really fun to be a part of,” Gibson said.
As a coach, Gibson stresses preparedness, and he and his coaching staff try to ensure the players are as ready as possible for the game ahead. Gibson said it was “pure execution” in Game 1 and that the confidence only grew in Game 2.
Looking ahead to the next matchup against the Stingers, Gibson was complimentary but firm in his outlook. “They are the premier team in the league, and they’ve got great players, but so do we,” he said.
The Gaels will play Game 2 of the best-of-three series at home on Feb. 28 at the Memorial Centre, puck drop at 7:30 p.m.
Tags
Hockey, McGill, Memorial Centre, playoffs
All final editorial decisions are made by the Editor(s) in Chief and/or the Managing Editor. Authors should not be contacted, targeted, or harassed under any circumstances. If you have any grievances with this article, please direct your comments to journal_editors@ams.queensu.ca.