OTTAWA - The Carleton Ravens men’s hockey team fell just short against the McGill Redbirds by a score of 1-0 in Carleton’s first game at the Ice House in three months.
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After an early Carleton bench-minor, the McGill Redbirds struck first on a powerplay goal from Brandon Frattaroli (Pierrefonde, QC.) McGill forward Keanu Yamamoto (Spokane, WA.) found Frattaroli open on the powerplay, and he put a one-timer over the shoulder of Carleton’s Cole McLaren (Lequille, NS). Carleton had a chance to tie the game on a four-minute powerplay after a high sticking penalty, but the Redbirds killed it off and carried a 1-0 lead into the second.
Carleton lost five players over the break to pro hockey contracts, so the team was forced to dress just ten forwards and five defenceman in this matchup.
The intensity picked up in the second period as Carleton ramped up the physicality. Both the Redbirds and the Ravens had multiple chances on the powerplay that neither team could convert on. Carleton’s Madoka Suzuki (Kanagawa, JPN.) had several good chances in the period but could not find the tying goal. McGill goaltender Alexis Shank (Laval, QC.) made a desperation save inside the last minute of the period to preserve McGill’s 1-0 lead heading into the final frame.
In the third period, the Ravens pressed on with an aggressive attack that gave the Redbirds trouble in their own zone. Oliver Castleman (Ottawa, Ont.) found Parker Aucoin (Sturgeon County, AB.) with a beautiful pass in the high slot which Shank made a great save on. In the dying seconds of the game, Castleman almost found himself in behind for a breakaway but was just inches offside, instead drawing a whistle. Shank and the Redbirds escaped the Ice House with the two points.
After the game, Carleton head coach Shaun Van Allan had plenty of praise to offer his starting goaltender Cole McLaren.
“It’s never an easy spot for a goaltender to come in after the team had played the night before, and he hasn’t played in months. I thought he did a fantastic job, and he gave us a real chance to win tonight which is all you can ask from your goaltender,” Van Allan said.
The Carleton Ravens men’s hockey team will be back in action on March. 8 on the road in Montreal where they will take on the Concordia Stingers. Four days later, the Ravens and Stingers will meet again on March. 12 for their final regular season showdown of the year.
