Stingers Hang Gaels Out to Dry

Strong Second Period and Near-Perfect Goaltending Factors in Win

SportsBoris Degas — Published November 8, 2011

ConU was up 1-0 after the first 20 minutes, and both teams had their chances in the opening frame. The Maroon and Gold switched gears in the second, however, lighting the lamp four times, as Queen’s coaching staff watched their helpless offense unable to put the puck through what appeared to be a brick wall in front of ConU’s net.

This brick wall was due to the heroics of Karvouniaris who stopped 39 of the 40 shots he faced. “We’ve been fortunate with goaltending this year,” said Stingers’ head coach Kevin Figsby.

Yet, while he was pleased with his goaltender situation, Figsby thought the Stingers’ intensity could have been better.

“We played to the intensity level of the game, but we didn’t play to the top of our capacity, like we did in back-to-back contests against McGill last week,” said Figsby. The Stingers won one and lost one, each to the tune of a 3-2 score.

The Stingers stayed disciplined hockey throughout the game, taking only three penalties while Queen’s racked up eight.

The large amount of power-play time and a couple of minutes of 5-on-3 hockey didn’t account significantly for their offensive production, though, as the Maroon and Gold only recorded a single goal with the man-advantage.

“I gave some of the guys with little PP time this year the opportunity to go out and get used to it. It’s hard to replicate game intensity in practice, as our defensemen know the power-play strategies and will tend to ‘cheat’ in drills,” said Figsby.

Eric Begin, the Stingers’ only fifth-year student, contributed to the win with a goal and an assist, adding another two points to his year’s impressive total, which now stands at three goals and six assists for nine points in eight games. He ranks fifth amongst Canadian Interuniversity Sport defensemen in points.

“Begin is a premier player in the CIS; he’s in the best condition he’s ever been in this year,” said Figsby.

The Stingers will be on the road next week, as they travel to Ontario to face Nipissing and Toronto. Their next showdown at the Ed Meagher Arena will take place Nov. 18 against Nipissing, at 7:00 p.m.