Queen’s wins 2024 Carr-Harris Challenge Cup 6-0

‘It’s kind of fun being the bad guy’

Image by: Herbert Wang
Caption: The Gaels won the game in a shutout, 6-0.

The Carr-Harris cup was underway at the Slush Puppie Place (formerly the Leon’s Centre) on Feb. 8, as the “world’s oldest rivalry in hockey” between the Queen’s Gaels and Royal Military College (RMC) Paladins took to the ice.

In the hour before puck-drop, the atmosphere was electric. RMC fans sported their red and white, and Queen’s repped the tricolour.  

It didn’t take long for the spectators to begin chirping, with loud chants of “Daddy’s money!” echoing through the arena. 

The Bill Fitsell Memorial Award goes to the most outstanding graduating athlete from both Queen’s and RMC; this year’s recipients were Gaels forward Alex Robert, ArtSci ’24, and RMC forward Chris Paquette. Each player was honoured for their role in their team’s success, largely producing offence for their respective top lines. 

Right from the first face-off, you could feel the tension on the ice. With everyone throwing their weight around, fans could tell how badly both teams wanted to win in front of their home crowds. 

The Gaels broke the ice about halfway through the first when Dharan Cap, ArtSci ’27, collected his own rebound after Lucas Peric, ArtSci ’26, and Kolton Cousins, ArtSci ’27 broke the puck into the zone.

As RMC geared up the physicality, it became evident the refs were going to the let the boys play. This didn’t faze the Gaels, as the blue-collar mentality the Gaels are privy to shined bright.

After Jonathan Yantsis, ArtSci ’24, drew a high-sticking penalty, Duhart notched his first goal of the game off an assist from Hayden Fowler, ArtSci ’25.

At the end of the first period, Queen’s was up 2-0, and seemed to be adding to their momentum.

Just five minutes into the second period, Derek Hamilton, ArtSci ’27, moved the puck to Jack Duff, ArtSci ’25, who placed it right on Duhart’s tape for him to snipe his second goal of the game, putting the Gaels up 3-0.  

 A roughing penalty was given to Queen’s defensive player Jacob Paquette, ArtSci ’24, a little over eight minutes into the second period, putting the Paladins on their first powerplay of the game.  

Soon after the Gaels killed off the penalty, a set of penalties were given out to the Gaels and Paladins. RMC’s Ryan Smith was awarded two-minutes for cross checking, while Cap got a two-minute retaliation penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct.

While the Gaels couldn’t add another tally before the second period expired, Yantsis came out hot in the third, scoring off a pass from Jacob Paquette, ArtSci ’24, that came in just 30 seconds into the period.

The Gaels and their goaltender, Christian Purboo, ArtSci ’25, were tested when Luca Peric, ArtSci ’26, took a five-minute major for head contact. Staying strong, Purboo and the Gaels shut down each of the Paladins’ attempts at mounting a comeback. 

Clarifying how he’s able to stay focused in such a pivotal moment in such a monumental game, Purboo reflected on the strategies he uses to stay present. 

“There’s three things I tell myself; I tell myself ‘keep battling,’ I tell myself ‘just two more minutes,’ and I tell myself ‘stay in the zone.’ I get creative and say stuff to myself, but yeah, it’s talking to myself throughout the game that keeps me in the game,” Purboo said. 

The intensity of the game picked up as RMC desperately tried to make a dent in the four-goal deficit with a five-minute powerplay, but Queen’s wasn’t sitting back.

“Too many times I found over a few years back, we would sit back. We’re looking to extend leads and it makes that game a lot easier. You’re not as hard on the bodies, mentally and physically,” Head Coach Brett Gibson said.

A series of hits led by Yantsis on RMC’s Brock McNaughton brightened up a relatively stationary Queen’s crowd with a little over ten minutes left in the game, also reigniting the Gael’s offense. 

Daniel Michaud, ArtSci ’27, scored the fifth goal for the Gaels with just over six minutes remaining in the game. The Goal was assisted by Katzalay and Jakob Brahaney, ArtSci ’24.

Yantsis scored again with just under three minutes left, adding his second of the game to the score sheet, and finalizing the game at 6-0 Gaels.

Although Queen’s opponents were a military college, the game was very undisciplined, with 35 penalty minutes being handed out.

In a post-game press conference, Duhart was asked his favourite moment of the game, besides his two goals.

“I love when the RMC student section was getting going and they get chanting, I think it’s kind of fun being the bad guy,” Duhart said.

The Gaels have one more regular season game at home against the Ontario Tech Ridgebacks on Feb. 10 before entering playoffs. With tonight’s win, the team has secured home ice advantage for the first round.

Corrections

February 16, 2024

A previous version of this story incorrectly stated Dalton Duhart as the recipient of the Bill Fitsell Memorial Award.

The Journal regrets the error

Tags

brett gibson, Carr-Harris Cup, Christain Purboo, Dalton Duhart, Jonathan Yantsis, RMC

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