With a 3-2 overtime victory over the Queen’s Gaels in Kingston, Ont. on Sunday afternoon, the Concordia Stingers men’s hockey team advances to the third round of the playoffs for the first time since the 1983-84 season.
“Did you say 1984? That’s the year I was born,” said Stinger head coach Marc-André Element as he was picking up celebratory hamburgers with his team on the way back to Montreal. “We will enjoy it tonight. Tomorrow it’s back to work.”
The Stingers had to go to overtime in Game 3 of a best-three series to erase 35 years of early exits. Philippe Sanche scored on a power play 51 seconds into the extra period to give Concordia the victory.
“I was really happy when we scored that goal,” Element said. “I think I jumped in (assistant coach) Jim Corsi’s arms.”
Rookie William Gignac and Anthony Beauregard, the leading scorer in U SPORTS men’s hockey, scored the Concordia goals in regulation play.
Goaltender Marc-Antoine Turcotte turned away 27 of 29 shots to secure the win.
“We stuck to our game plan the whole game,” said Element of the events in Kingston. “All four lines, the defence, everyone played well.”
In 1984, Concordia was playing in the defunct Quebec University Athletic Association conference. This year marks the first time Concordia has reached the OUA East finals. The Stingers play a best-of-three series with the McGill Redmen.
Dates and time for those games will be announced shortly.
