McGill battles Harvard and Habs top draft pick to a draw
Oct. 23, 2009
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – Doug Rogers scored with 2:05 remaining in regulation as Harvard rallied with a pair of late goals to earn a 3-3 overtime tie against McGill in an exhibition men’s hockey before 1,006 fans at the Bright Hockey Center in Cambridge, Mass., Friday.
Senior Guillaume Doucet of Anjou, Que., scored twice for the No.8-ranked Redmen in what marked the first draw between the two academically-renowned institutions since they began playing each other more than a century ago. McGill has registered a 26-11-1 lifetime record against their Ivy League cousins.
The game marked the collegiate debut for Harvard freshman Louis Leblanc, the Montreal Canadiens top selection in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft. Leblanc, a native of Pointe Claire, Que., assisted on Michael Biega’s first-period goal, narrowing the score to 2-1. Leblanc also drew three minor penalties, had a game-high eight shots on net and was +1.
Sophomore Francis Verreault-Paul of Mashteviatsh, Que., also connected for the Redmen, who blew a 3-1 lead with 10 minutes remaining in the third period.
Alex Biega made it 3-2 at 10:49, setting the stage for the equalizer by Rogers, who stole the puck near centre ice and skated down the right side. He weaved his way through the defence and placed the puck over goaltender Hubert Morin’s left shoulder, tying the game, 3-3.
McGill received a stellar outing from Morin, the sophomore from St. Georges de Beauce, Que., who made 46 saves — including 20 on the power play — as Harvard outshot the Redmen 49-18. McGill was 1-for-6 on the power play and killed off 11 of 12 shorthanded situations.
The Redmen, in the midst of their 134th season, are 5-2-1 overall and play Dartmouth in another non-conference affair, at Hanover, N.H., on Saturday at 7 p.m. Harvard kicks off their 110th season officially at Ivy League and ECAC Hockey rival Dartmouth Friday, Oct. 30 at 7 p.m.
