Rivalry Night

Stingers Drop Game to Redmen in Annual Corey Cup Game

SportsVince Morello — Published February 8, 2015 | Updated February 8, 2015 at 11:49pm

McGill defenceman Samuel Labrecque scored the game-tying and game-winning goal for the Redmen, as both teams were playing three versus three in the double overtime period.

The Stingers were playing their final game of the regular season and wanted to enter the post-season on a high note.

“That’s just the way it is. [McGill] is a veteran, very experienced team,” said Stingers head coach Kevin Figsby. “We’re a young team, we made some mistakes tonight.”

Early in the first the Stingers played promisingly, as forward Scott Oke scored a powerplay goal just eight minutes into the game.

Just over five minutes later, Oke scored his second goal of the game after taking a pass from fellow forward Dominic Beauchemin.

But McGill would not go away quietly, as they came out stronger in the second period with the intention of taking the game back.

The Redmen were able to get back into the game with a quick goal by McGill forward Jonathan Bonneau, who sniped the puck past Stingers goaltender Robin Billingham.

McGill would continue to put on pressure, causing the Stingers to get into penalty trouble.

The Redmen quickly capitalized when Patrick Delisle-Houde scored off a point shot that was deflected into the Stingers’ net, tying the game at 2.

Concordia would quickly respond as Dominic Beauchemin took advantage of a goalie that was out of position, scoring on an empty net and regaining the lead.

With the game all but looking wrapped up for the Concordia, the Redmen pulled the goalie with just over a minute to go.

With an extra attacker for McGill on the ice, defenceman Samuel Labrecque would take a slap shot that squeezed through Billingham with just 21 seconds left, tying the game.

After the teams went scoreless in the first five minutes of overtime, where both teams play four-a-side, the second five minutes began with each team only icing three players.

“I’m not a fan of [3-on-3 OT]; I voted against it when it came up,” Figsby said. “If you’re going to play an extra 10 minutes of the game, it’s not about the fans, it’s about the players.”

“When its 3-on-3, anything can go,” said Billingham. “One mistake leads to a breakaway.”

The Redmen and Stingers took advantage of all the extra time and space on the ice, with both teams getting prime scoring chances.

Eventually the Redmen would capitalize on a defensive zone turnover and Labreqcue would put home the overtime winner for McGill.

“I think we could have done better. Some turnovers cost us the game,” said Beauchemin. “You couldn’t blame anybody.”