Running on Empty

Stingers Fall to Carleton in a Nail-Biter

SportsPaolo Mingarelli — Published January 24, 2012

Concordia’s men’s hockey team were eager to get two points over the visiting Carleton Ravens last Saturday, but, playing their fifth game in eight days, they ran out of steam by game’s end, dropping their third of those five games.

Despite the end result, Stingers head coach Kevin Figsby was pleased with the team’s effort. “For us to stay on the game plan as long as we did and battle like we did, I’m really proud of our team today,” said Figsby.

A slow start to the game set the Stingers back, as the Ravens pumped two pucks past Stingers goaltender Peter Karvouniaris despite some magnificent glove saves on his part in the early going.

After coming back from two goals down to tie the game up at three apiece, momentum slipped away from the Stingers. After the they came away from a scuffle in front of the net—in response to some Carleton physicality towards Karvouniaris—with a penalty, Ravens defenseman Matthew Stanisz capitalized on the man advantage, and the opposing squad added another marker before the period was out.

Karvouniaris stood tall in the third, however, stopping all 12 shots Carleton threw at him. “You know they’re going to be defensive with a two goal lead, thus taking less shots, so you gotta be ready when they come,” he said.

Stingers captain Eric Begin closed the gap to 5-4, but the Stingers couldn’t muster up any more offense after that.

Next up for the Stingers is a rematch with the Université du Québec à Trois Rivières Patriotes following Jan. 18’s debacle, which Figsby notes is an important one for a team looking to play in the postseason.

“There’s six teams that are all within two points of each other so every game right now is going to be a tremendous battle,” said Figsby. “We’re in a must-win situation right now, and if you got anything left, you gotta put it out there, and if you don’t have anything left—dig down and find a way,” he added.

The Stingers-Patriotes action takes place on the road this Wednesday. The puck drops at 7:00 p.m.