Hockey: McGill won't have captain for OUA East final

Some less than auspicious news for McGill entering its playoff showdown vs. UQTR, with Game 1 of the best-of-3 OUA East final set for Wednesday at Le Colisée in Trois-Rivières. Their best offensive defenceman won't play due to a suspension:
"McGill captain Yan Turcotte provided an illustrative example of the team's capacity for both skill and undisciplined play during a five-minute stretch in the first period. After drawing a penalty and then scoring on the ensuing power-play, Turcotte was assessed a match penalty for spearing Carleton's Andrew Self on a neutral zone faceoff less than four minutes later.

" 'He knew the ref was watching him and he still speared the guy in [the groin]. How stupid is that?" said (coach Jim) Webster.

"Turcotte incurs an automatic three-game suspension for the spear, and will miss the entire OUA Eastern Conference Final series."
The article notes this did not come in a vacuum: McGill faced the third-most power plays of any team in the 19-team OUA, killing off a conference-best 89.6 per cent. UQTR comes in with No. 3 power play (25.5%, although just 6-for-36 in the playoffs).

By the way, checking the special teams stats turns up one fun fact: Western has made it to the third round while going 2-for-27 on the PP. Crazy.

Related:
Redmen roll to the second round, captain Turcotte suspended; McGill finishes off Carleton, preps for showdown with UQTR (Matt Chesser, The McGill Tribune)
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2 comments:

  1. Boy, that took a lot of courage.
    Spearing a guy in the balls while the ref was looking?
    Gutless and incredibly stupid.

    ReplyDelete