Stingers Improve to 3-1 With Win Over Ottawa

Strong Physical Play Leads Concordia to Victory in Men’s Hockey Home Opener

SportsShawn Mccrory — Published October 19, 2010

The men’s hockey team beat the Ottawa Gee-Gees 6-3 Sunday afternoon at Ed Meagher Arena in the Stingers’ home opener this season.

Defenceman Kiefer Orsini led the way with a four-point night, scoring two goals and adding two assists.

“We kept to the game plan, kept it simple early on and got the first goal, then kept going,” said Orsini. “It was a good game for all four lines—definitely a team win.”

Concordia dictated the pace of play in the early going with energetic performances from all four lines.
The Stingers’ fast-paced, physical style frustrated the Gee-Gees as they struggled to break out of their own end during the first few minutes of play.

Concordia capitalized on its momentum with less than four minutes left in the first period, as Eric Bégin found teammate Orsini at the far post with a pass from the top of the face-off circle that Orsini converted for the game’s opening goal.

Ottawa managed to tie the game on a power play goal in the last minute of the first period. Forward Matthieu Methot took advantage of a breakdown in Concordia’s defensive zone coverage, which resulted from confusion over a delayed penalty, to score the equalizer.

Concordia took the lead early in the second period, scoring two goals in quick succession.

Forward Marc-André Element notched the Stingers’ second power-play marker of the game and Orsini followed suit less than two minutes later with an even-strength goal that would be his second of the game. Orsini took a crisp pass from Derek Famulare and shot high blocker side to beat Ottawa goalie Aaron Barton for a highlight reel goal to make it 3-1.

The Gee-Gees clawed their way back into the game late in the second to make it 3-2 with another late period goal by Methot.

Concordia extended its lead eight minutes into a penalty-filled third period with a goal from centre George Lovatsis, while Ottawa replied with a short-handed tally from Sean Smyth.

Lovatsis scored Concordia’s third power-play goal to make it 5-3. Famulare closed the scoring to make it 6-3 with less than five minutes to play.

“We’re a big team, we’re strong, we’re physical and we’re disciplined but the key to our success right now is our speed and our quick hands,” said Stingers head coach Kevin Figsby.

“We’re getting tremendous leadership from our older players and tremendous drive from our younger players. We have an extremely exciting team this year.”

According to Gee-Gees head coach Dave Leger the game’s turning point was in the third period.

“It was a one-goal game going into the third period and then we got ourselves into penalty trouble at a critical time,” said Leger. “We have a young team. We learned the lesson that you have to be disciplined sometimes.”

The Stingers will play two regular-season games this week, before embarking on a road trip to Plattsburgh, N.Y. for an exhibition game next Monday.

This article originally appeared in Volume 31, Issue 10, published October 19, 2010.