Lancers miss final shot at nationals
Stibbard nets two in medal game
There was no storybook ending for the University of Windsor Lancers men’s hockey team Sunday.
As unexpected playoff run fell one win short of clinching a spot at the CIS championships.
The Lancers fell behind by four goals Sunday before rallying late, but lost 5-3 on the road to the No. 10-ranked Universite du Quebec a Trois Rivieres Patriotes in the OUA bronzemedal game. The Patriotes move on to the CIS championships in Fredericton, N.B.
“We just didn’t get it,” Lancers firstyear forward Evan Stibbard said.
“We had three chances to win one game to go to nationals and couldn’t get it.”
After winning the opening game of the West Division final against Western, the Lancers dropped the last two games to lose the series. Sunday was a last chance to get there, but it was a tough road.
“It’s never an easy game have to go to Quebec for a 2 o’clock game on a Sunday,” Lancers assistant coach Ryan Donally said. “The guys competed to the end.
“If we had gotten a few bounces, things might be there, but it just wasn’t meant to be.”
“WE NEVER QUIT.” LANCERS CAPTAIN MATT MCCREADY
After a scoreless opening period, the Patriotes jumped to a 2-0 lead on goals by Billy Lacasse and Tommy Tremblay.
“Just a couple of bad bounces, but we never quit,” Lancers captain Matt Mccready said. “It was just an unfortunate game for us.”
Stibbard cut the lead to 2-1, but the Patriotes got goals from Olivier Ouellet and JeanSebastien Breton to take a 4-1 lead after 40 minutes.
“It would have been nice to get that first goal,” Donally said of the game that featured 36 shots for each team.
Maxime Levesque made it 5-1 before the Lancers rallied to make things interesting late with goals by Stibbard and D.J. Turner.
“We didn’t want it to end in a game like that, but we never quit,” Mccready said. “I’m proud of the guys.”
After upset playoff wins over York and Lakehead to start the playoffs, the Lancers put together a longer playoff run than many thought possible.
“It’s big for our program,” Donally said. “I think we have 13, 14 or 15 freshmen and to go this long in the playoffs with such a young squad bodes well for the future.
“I think you can talk about us in the same position as the Westerns and Lakeheads.”