With an exciting 2-1 victory over McGill University at the McConnell Arena on Sunday night, the Concordia Stingers men's hockey team took a playoff series from its crosstown rivals for the first time since 2001.
It was the 15th post-season clash between the bitter crosstown rivals. McGill has won 10 of the 14 series with a 19-14 win-loss record in 33 playoff games. McGill defeated Concordia in 1988, 1989, 1993, 1995, 2000, 2007, 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2018. The Stingers won in 1977, 1979, 1998, 2001 and 2020.
On Sunday, it was the third-and-deciding game between the teams in the opening round of the OUA playoffs. The teams were closely matched all year, but the Stingers who finished fifth in the regular season, were slight underdogs. Their crosstown rivals were fourth in the standings and had won two out of three regular season meetings.
All the scoring took place in the second period, with each goal coming on the power-play. Keanu Yamamoto put McGill ahead 1-0 at 6:09 but the Stingers countered with markers from centre Jean-Philippe Beaulieu and right-winger Chase Harwell, at 11:20 and 18:56, respectively.
Stinger rookie goaltender Kyle Jessiman turned aside 21 of 22 shots for the win, while McGill veteran Louis-Philip Guindon kicked out 25 of 27.
Game 1 - Thursday, Feb. 13: McGill 2, Concordia 1
Game 2 - Saturday, Feb. 15: Concordia 5, McGill 4 (OT)
Game 3 - Sunday, Feb. 16: Concordia 2, McGill 1
(Concordia wins best-of-three series 2-1)
The Stingers will meet the first-place Carleton Ravens in the second round of the playoffs. The schedule will be announced shortly.
