Posted: Jan 31, 2020
MHKY | Voyageurs Stung by Concordia
The Laurentian Voyageurs men's hockey team played their first game of a two game series against both Montreal teams, the Concordia Stingers and McGill University. Tonight the Voyageurs took on the fifth place Stingers at Countryside for their second last regular season home game.
The Voyageurs were desperate for a win, as they trail Nipissing by 5 points for the last playoff spot with 5 games remaining.
The Voyageurs would be the first on the scoreboard after William Gignac, the ex Stinger, scored on his old team with a patient backhand to beat a sprawled-out Sebastien Lefebvre top corner. Zach Wilkie and Gavin Apperson would get the assists.
The Stingers would reply just one minute after with Tyler Hylland scoring his 13th goal on the season six minutes and twelve seconds into the first.
The Voyageurs would score yet again in the first after Wilkie beat Lefebvre with a wicked shot from the top of the circle both giving the Voyageurs a one goal advantage and as well, releasing the contents of Lefebvre's water bottle. This would be Wilkie's fifth goal on the season. Gignac and Cole Peck would get the assists.
The Vees would score one last goal halfway through the second as Paul-Antoine Deslauriers would score his fourth of the season after a an excellent rebound awarded him a shot from the slot and over the shoulder of Lefebvre giving the Vees a 3-1 lead. With the goal, the Voyageurs would chase Lefebvre from the Stingers net, as after surrendering 3 goals on just 11 shots he would be replaced by Kyle Jessiman. Unfortunately for the Voyageurs, this would be the turning point of the game. Jessiman stopped all 12 shots he faced, and the Stingers would score four unanswered goals.
Phillipe Sanche scored a minute after the third Voyageur goal to cut the deficit back to one, and Bradley Lalonde tied the game two minutes later. Carl Neill scored with three and a half minutes left in the third to give the Stingers their first lead of the night, and they would add an empty net goal to seal the deal.
Mackenzie Savard finished the game with 41 saves, and both teams went 0/3 on the powerplay.
The Vees will take on McGill University tomorrow for their last home game of the season. Puck drop is at 7:30, with a short pre-game ceremony before to honour the four graduating players.
Sam Brooks