The beginning of the semester saw both hockey teams on the road for a pair of matchups. While the men’s team found good fortune away from home, the women weren’t quite as lucky. 

Women’s hockey team splits games

The women’s hockey team (9-7-0-0) travelled to Toronto to face the Ryerson Rams (7-5-2-1) and the University of Toronto Varsity Blues (8-5-1-1) this weekend.

On Friday, the Gaels slid past the Rams 4-3, with the former off to a quick start in the first period.

Forwards Addi Halladay and Hailey Wilson scored on separate power plays in the first and second periods, before forwards Quinn Johnston and Brigid Goris added goals of their own in the third to secure a Queen’s win. Fourth-year goalie Stephanie Pascal made 23 saves in the win.

W | Quinn for the win Gaels now lead 3-2 in the third!
—#GoGaelsGo pic.twitter.com/EkJCcPxAZY

— Queen’s Gaels (@queensgaels) January 12, 2019

The Gaels barely led in shots, outshooting Ryerson 27-26, but were efficient on the power play—where they finished the game with a 25 per cent success rate. While they had difficulty staying out of the penalty box, going on the penalty kill seven times, Queen’s shut down six of Ryerson’s seven power play chances in the game. 

On Saturday, Queen’s narrowly fell to the Varsity Blues 0-1. U of T’s lone goal, scored midway through the first period, triggered strong defense from the Gaels for the remainder of the game—leading second-year goaltender Makenzy Arsenault to make 20 saves in her tenth start of the season. Despite limiting the number of shots on goal, the Gaels were only able to muster 20 shots of their own.

The loss marked third time in which the Gaels failed to find the net this season.

Next weekend, Queen’s will face-off against the defending OUA champion Western Mustangs (9-2-0-4) at the Memorial Centre on Friday and the Windsor Lancers (0-12-2-1) on Saturday.

Men’s hockey dominate through the weekend

The men’s hockey team (15-5-0) travelled to Northern Ontario for games against the Laurentian Voyageurs (5-12-1) and the Nipissing Lakers (6-13-0) this weekend, winning both matchups with ease.

On Friday night, the Gaels beat the Voyageurs handily despite being tied 2-2 after the end of the first period. Queen’s kept Laurentian at bay in the second until they scored two goals in the third period, winning 4-2.

M| Alex Row with the go-ahead goal!!

Gaels lead 3-2 with a few minutes remaining #GoGaelsGo pic.twitter.com/uVy8L5XynH

— Queen’s Gaels (@queensgaels) January 12, 2019

Forwards Slater Doggett, Alex Row, and Henry Thompson all scored for Queen’s. Thompson scored two of the game’s goals—the first on a power play partway through the first period, and his second in the game’s final minutes.  First-year goaltender Justin Fazio made 27 saves to keep the Gaels in control of their lead.

The following day, the team landed another victory against Nippissing by a score of 4-1. Three of the Gaels’ goals came in the third period, scored by forwards Doggett and Luke Edwards and defenseman Graeme Brown. Doggett scored two in the game, bringing his season total to 15—just three short of the fourth-year’s career-high, 18. In addition, second-year goalie Jack Flinn made 26 saves in the win. In the Gaels’ three games against the Lakers this season, they’ve outscored them 11-3.

Up next, Queen’s is off to Montreal to face the Concordia Stingers for the first time this season.