Lavigne and Chermetiev play hero as Tommies defeat X-Men

Charles Lavigne was stellar this evening helping the
Tommies win in a shootout against the St-FX X-Men
Courtesy Dylan Buell

Well kiss that 12 game losing streak good-bye because our Tommies defeated the St-FX X-Men 2 to 1 in a shoot out tonight.  The win was the fourth of the year for STU - one more than last year - and more importantly keeps us 4 points behind the X-Men for the final playoff position.

The best part of this game was in overtime and the shoot out but the Tommies had to get there first.  STU scored early in the first at 4:29 off the stick of Jordan Scott (Gallant, Cheremetiev) for a 1 - 0 lead that would last until the third.  St. Thomas would come close several times but had to lean heavily on Charles Lavigne most of the way to get the game to overtime.  Shots were 12 - 6 for STU in the first, 17 - 12 for X in the second, and 9 - 1 in the third for X.  The X-Men broke Lavigne's shut out bid with 7:25 to go in the final period.

Early in overtime, Jonathan Bonneau rushed in and fired a laser beam square off the crossbar to come oh so close to ending it.  St-FX found some composure and came close to scoring themselves several times, if not for Lavigne.  OT was back and forth with shots favouring X 9 to 3 but it would solve nothing.

Yuri Cheremetiev scored the shoot out winner for the Tommies
Courtesy Dylan Buell

In the shoot out the X-Men would shoot first.  Jordan Scott, Jonathan Bonneau, and Randy Cameron would shoot for STU.  The X-Men missed on their first three shooters, although one got by Lavigne but trickled out and hit the post.  Scott was stoned, Bonneau rang one off the crossbar, and Cameron missed.  The fourth X shooter scored and it was up to Robert Zandbeek to score and he did, going five hole.  The fifth X shooter missed, which set up Yuri Cheremetiev.  Yuri made no mistake with a back hand toe drag putting it high out of the reach of the X-Men goaltender Morgan Clark for the winner.

STU gets their first win of 2012 and 3 out of 4 points in NS this weekend.  They return home next week to face the very same SMU and St-FX teams in their last visits to the LBR.

Tommies defeat Mounties, moving on up

Jordan Miller scored the winning goal tonight
against the Mount Allison Mounties.
Courtesy Dylan Buell

The Lady Tommies defeated Mount Allison this evening 3 to 1 to earn themselves a tie with the Mounties for fourth in the AUS standings.  Julia Sharun was lights out fantastic facing 41 shots for the win.

The Tommies got the game off on the right foot when Katie Brewster blocked a shot, scooted in on a breakaway and scored unassisted at 1:27.  Jordan Miller (MacIsaac, McTaggart) would get a goal just one second after a MT. A penalty expired at 18:23 to send the Tommies into the intermission up two goals.  Shots were 12 - 10 in the first for STU.

The second period was all Mount Allison and if not for the amazing goaltending of Julia Sharun, the Tommies would have been in big trouble.  The Mounties scored 24 seconds into the period but Shurun shut the door the rest of the way facing 21 shots in the period.

In the third, Sharun continued to shine and Captain Kayla Blackmore, from behind the goal line, scored only 12 seconds into the period for a little insurance.  STU would make it stand up and win the proverbial 4 point game and now sit one point behind UPEI for 3rd position in the AUS.

St. Thomas will head to Alberton, Prince Edward Island tomorrow afternoon to take on the UPEI Panthers in a playoff style show down. No broadcast is available and do not expect any updates from this one.  We'll share any news we get, as soon as we get it.  GO TOMMIES GO!!

Collier excellent in OT loss to Huskies

Justin Collier faced 43 shots and was named first star of the
game in an overtime loss to the Huskies tonight.
Courtesy Dylan Buell

An amazing effort by rookie goaltender Justin Collier wasn't enough for the Tommies tonight, as the SMU Huskies defeated STU 3 to 2 in overtime.  Collier faced 43 shots and made several large saves to keep the game close.

The Tommies were first on the board at 8:07 of the opening period when Sebastien Bernier made a nice pass off the boards that sprung a waiting Yuri Cheremetiev on a clearcut breakaway.  Yuri made no mistake with a beautiful move to put STU up 1 - 0.   The Huskies pressed hard late in the period and out shot STU 8 to 4 in first.

Saint Mary's came out gunning in the second but STU capitalized on a powerplay at 6:06 when Randy Cameron (Scott, Cheremetiev) converted to increase the lead to 2 - 0.  Collier closed the door for the rest of the period with SMU out shooting STU 15 - 6.

St. Thomas had a glorious chance early in the third to go up by three goals but the puck wouldn't settle down enough for Bryan Main to make good on the open net chance.

Saint Mary's finally broke the goose egg at 12:30 on the PP and tied the game 1:40 later.  Both goals were perfect shots past Collier, who had no chance on either.  The game would head to overtime tied at 2's and shots in SMU's favour 38 - 16.

The overtime was a back and forth affair with even play for both teams.  The Huskies would capitalize on a point shot that was deflected past Collier for the winner at 6:03.  Saint Mary's named the STU goalie first star of the game over SMU's Chris MacKinnon, who scored the overtime goal and had an assist.  Pretty classy IMO.  Some other teams could take notes.

STU will have little time to lick their wounds as they head to Antigonish and tangle with the sixth place X-Men tomorrow night at 7 PM.

Tommies hit the road this weekend

I guess we will have to wait and see if the storm the meteorologists are calling for today actually hits but the men are scheduled to take on the Saint Mary's Huskies tonight in Halifax.  The Tommies have seven games left and sit six points behind St-FX for the final playoff position.  Game time tonight from the Halifax Forum is 7 PM, pending any weather related cancellation.  Watch the webcast HERE. UPDATE 1:30 PM - The Tommies are in Halifax, GAME ON for tonight.

The Lady Tommies are in Sackville Saturday evening at 7 PM to take on the Mount Allison Mounties.  St. Thomas sits two points behind Mt. A for fourth place with the Mounties having a game in hand.  This should be a good tilt and you can listen to it HERE.

The men travel to Antigonish on Saturday night and will take on the X-Men.  The Tommies defeated X the last time they played at the KMC back in October.  If they have any hope of squeaking into the playoffs this is a must win.  Game time is 7 PM and you can watch the game HERE.

Sunday afternoon will see the Ladies head over the fixed link to PEI for a game against the third place Panthers.  STU currently sit three points back of UPEI.  The game will be played in the Town of Alberton in western PEI.  Game time is 3 PM and there is no broadcast.

Good luck to our Tommies this weekend.

Tigers snap Tommies win streak

The ref signals its good and Captain Kayla Blackmore raises
 her stick after scoring a beauty goal in the first period.
Courtesy Dylan Buell

It certainly wasn't the ending to the weekend the Tommies were looking for but regardless of today's outcome - a 3 to 2 loss vs. Dalhousie - the Ladies can hold their heads high with two big wins over the top teams in the conference in the past four games.

This afternoon it was the Tigers who struck first on the powerplay 7:27 into the game.  St. Thomas responded 5 minutes later at 13:21 when Kayla Blackmore (Fox, MacDonald) raced out on a break away and made a great move and tied the game at 1's.  The period ended with STU leading in shots 12 - 11.

The Tommies played a good second period and capitalized early when Jordan Miller (D. Miller, MacDonald) went top shelf at 3:22.  Dalhousie had few quality chances but their sniper Jocelyn LeBlanc scored two goals in a minute and thirty second span on STU defensive miscues.  The period ended with the score 3 to 2 and shots even at four apiece.

In the third period the Tommies had several chances but couldn't convert for the tying goal.  Kristin Wolfe took the tough luck loss facing 21 shots, while STU fired back with 23.

The Lady Tommies will be back in action next weekend on the road against Mount Allison and UPEI, both teams they are jockeying with in the standing.  There is no broadcast available for UPEI on Sunday but Mount Allison has a radio broadcast (surprise, surprise) HERE and I will post the link again this weekend on Facebook and Twitter.