Head coach Kevin Figsby and the Concordia Stingers men’s hockey team open the Ontario conference playoffs against the always dangerous UQTR Patriotes in Trois-Rivières tonight.
UQTR finished in second place in the OUA East division with a 19-8-1 record. Concordia posted a 12-14-2 record and finished in seventh spot. However, it’s a matchup the Stingers feel good about.
“We always play well against Trois-Rivières,” says Concordia captain Marc-André Element. “We have a good rivalry with them.”
The teams met three times in the regular season. Each of the games was decided by one goal, including a 4-3 overtime victory at home on Jan. 19.
“If the first three games are any indication, it will be a very close series,” says Figsby. “The key to winning this series is for us to go up there and get a win on their ice. We also have to establish our offence. We have to get shots early and outshoot them.”
Offensively, Concordia’s top line has enjoyed success against the Patriotes. Left wing Alex Monahan has three goals and four assists in the three games. Centre Charles-Antoine Messier has a goal and three assists and right wing François Lanctôt-Marcotte has chipped in with two goals and an assist.
Game 2 of the best-of-three series will take place Saturday at 2 p.m. at the Ed Meagher Arena on Concordia’s University’s Loyola campus. Game 3, if necessary, will be back in Trois-Rivières on Sunday night.
