Tommies play Moncton in first playoff contest

The Tommies start their play-off push Thursday night vs. Moncton.  All games will be broadcast on SSN Canada.

AUS Women's Hockey Championship information

Tigers defeat Tommies 4 to 0

Final T formation at the DMA
Courtesy Richard Lafourtune

After their dramatic overtime win against Moncton on Friday night, the Lady Tommies came out flat versus Dalhousie this afternoon in Halifax.  The Tigers held period leads of 2 - 0 after the first, 3 - 0 after the second, and your final 4 - 0.  Kristin Wolfe was tagged with the loss in the STU net.

St. Thomas will head back to Halifax this week for the AUS women's hockey playoff tournament and start on Thursday night at 7 PM versus arch rival Moncton.  Good luck to our Lady Tommies.

TOMMIES LEAVE LBR IN STYLE WITH OT WIN

Caley Steinert and Kayla Blackmore celebrate the final goal in STU Tommies LBR Hockey history.
Courtesy Dylan Buell

THE LADY TOMMIES DID IT!! In the final game at the LBR for STU Hockey the Ladies defeated the UdeM Aigles Bleues 2 to 1 in overtime. Caley Steinert with a brilliant end to end rush closed down STU's time at the LBR in exciting fashion. Julia Sharun was phenomenal in the STU goal.

Kayla Blackmore ties the game for STU.
Courtesy Dyaln Buell

The first two periods were scoreless in this tight match. Neither Moncton nor St. Thomas were willing to blink and both goaltenders did their part in keeping the game tied at zeroes. Shots after two periods favoured UdM 20 to 17.

Moncton received an early powerplay in the third when Paige MacDonald was sent to the box for tripping and M-P Arseneault scored seven seconds later at 0:27 to give Les Aigles the 1 - 0 lead. Things looked grim but the Tommies were not going to have their night end with a loss. You could see the fight in every stride, every move.

The crowd was anxious for a Tommies goal and Kayla Blackmore (Scott, J. Miller) delivered at 7:59 to tie the game and reenergize the Tommies faithful.

U de M had a breakaway with less than 2 minutes to play but Julia Sharun was up to the task and shut the door to force overtime.

You could feel the electricity in the final overtime at the LBR and we didn't wait long for an amazing rush to finish the game with a victory for STU.

Caley Steinert just about to end the LBR days in style.
Courtesy Dylan Buell

Caley Steinert picked up the puck in the STU end and raced down the right wing side, cut to the net, out waiting the goalie and potting the winner for the Tommies 47 seconds into OT. The bench and the LBR erupted as the Ladies bid farewell to the LBR with the WIN. (See the highlight below)

The Tommies clinch 5th spot in the AUS and will head to Halifax on Sunday to play their final game of the regular season versus Dalhousie.

THANK YOU LADIES, YOU MADE ALL OF US VERY PROUD!! CALEY STEINERT with the final goal for STU at the LBR!!

IT'S GOOD, TOMMIES WIN - TOMMIES WIN!!
Courtesy Dylan Buell

Update:

The winning goal, OT Winner, and final STU goal in LBR history, from Tommies TV:

Tommies get critical win against SMU

Cassidy McTaggart on the doorstep
looking for a rebound against SMU.
Courtesy Richard Lafourtune

Thanks to a pair of third period goals by Dani Miller, the Lady Tommies pulled out a 4 to 2 victory over last place Saint Mary's this afternoon in Halifax. You have to give credit to the Huskies, as they stuck with the Tommies for most of the game.

SMU opened up the scoring at 5:28 of the first period on a goal by Kaitlyn Abbass. STU responded late in the period on the powerplay when Courtney Fox (MacIsaac) potted her third of the season at 18:46. Shots were close at 14 to 12 for STU.

The Tommies took the lead just over a minute into the second frame as Katie Brewster (McTaggart, MacIsaac) scored her 10th of the campaign. The Huskies evened things up with 4 seconds to go in the period, beating Julia Sharun with a powerplay marker of their own. With the score even heading into the final frame, STU had to come out gunning. Cue Dani Miller.

In the third it was Miller time. Dani scored early, 54 seconds into the period assisted by Captain Blackmore and again at 3:14 unassisted to give the Tommies the eventual 2 goal margin of victory.

Final shots on goal were 36 to 29 for St. Thomas and Julia Sharun picked up her ninth win of the season. The victory moves STU two points up on Dalhousie for fifth and three back of UPEI for fourth with two games remaining.

Next game for the Ladies will be their LBR swan song as they take on Moncton Friday night at 7 PM.

X-Women defeat STU 3 to 1

The Tommies dropped a 3 to 1 decision this afternoon to the St-FX X-Women in Antigonish. Danielle Miller from Brewster and Blackmore scored STU's lone goal at 13:34 of the second period on the powerplay.

X held period leads of 2 to 0 after one, 3 to 1 after two. There were no goals scored in the third. The Tommies had 9 chances on the PP and only converted once. Julia Sharun was solid in the STU net. Shots were 29 - 26 for X.

With the loss and Dalhousie's surprising late comeback win over Moncton this afternoon, the Tommies find themselves tied with the Tigers for 5th in the standings but have two games in hand.

STU heads to Halifax for a 2 PM start against the SMU Huskies tomorrow. No webcast is available for this game.

Grant*Harvey Centre UPDATE

The new home of the St. Thomas Tommies hockey clubs is really coming along well. A June completion date is looking probable and work is moving along on schedule. The ice surfaces were a few weeks away from the concrete being poured back on February 7th but will be done soon. Check out the photos below.

St. Thomas falls to Mounties

Kayla Blackmore whacks home STU's only goal.
Photo Courtesy Dylan Buell

Although the Tommies outshot the Mounties and arguably held much of the play, they came out on the wrong side of a 4 to 1 decision to Mount Allison. Turnabout is fair play, as STU defeated Mt. A a few weeks ago by the same score in their barn.

This afternoon Kayla Blackmore (D. Miller, J. Miller) scored the lone goal for the Tommies at 14:05 of the first. The Mounties would score three in the 2nd period and one late in the third to secure the victory.

Shots were 37 to 30 for STU, as Julia Sharun was tagged with the loss.

The Tommies hit the road next weekend and face off against Saint Mary’s and St-FX before returning to the LBR for their final game against Moncton on the 24th.

Season ends on HDIC with loss to Panthers

In AUS men's hockey action at Summerside this afternoon the UPEI Panthers scored 3 PP goals to defeat the Tommies 5-0. The game was part of the Hockey Day in Canada celebrations, although the Tommies had little to celebrate. The Panthers scored two in the 1st and three in the 3rd while out shooting the Tommies 31-29. Justin Collier played 32:28 allowing 2 goals with Charles Lavigne going the final 27:32.

And so another Tommies season has come to an end and although we failed to make the play-offs for the 4th year in a row, we did witness improvement in a number of areas which gives us great hope for the coming years. This year's team has made us believers once again and by their on ice play a determined desire to turn this program around....and so congratulations to the coaching staff and players for a job well done.....we look forward to the 2012-13 season with great anticipation.

We wish to express our sincere thanks to each of our guys for a super season and in particular to our graduating Tommies (Charles Lavigne, Brad Gallant, Bryan Main, Jordan Scott & Andrew Andricopoulos) for their outstanding & exceptional contributions to Tommies Hockey. We wish each of them all the best in your future endeavours....."Once a Tommie, always a Tommie"

Game write up Courtesy Harold DeCourcey

Goodbye LBR. 47 years of history ends in OT

Charles Lavigne getting set before the game.
Courtesy Dylan Buell

Rum Row was packed.  The PA system was muffled but loud.  The crowd was big and there was a warmth in the old rink that hadn't been felt in years, maybe almost a playoff feeling.  The 2011-2012 Tommies fought to the bitter end and while the outcome was a 4 - 3 overtime loss to our long time rival Moncton, it was a great game nevertheless.

After all the formalities were done and former Tommies from the past 50 years left the ice, it was U de M who came out gunning.  In the first 65 seconds Les Aigles scored two goals and everyone was thinking the worst.  But the old ghosts that haunt the LBR and a timeout called by Coach Ryan helped to settle down this young bunch of Tommies.

Chris Morehouse scored STU's first goal.
Courtesy Dylan Buell

Chris Morehouse, who has great ties to the Beav, scored at 3:44 to get the crowd back into the game and STU on the score sheet.  Bryan Main and Steve Sanza drew the assists.  The first period would end with  St. Thomas down a goal at 2 to 1.

The Tommies would draw even when the Moncton goalie got caught out of his net and Sebastien Bernier scored into the yawning cage at 5:13.  STU mounted a heavy attack in the second period but couldn't find the go ahead goal, hitting the cross bar twice.  Moncton would score at 18:13  - on a shot that fooled Charles Lavigne - and would take the one goal lead into the third.

Charles Lavigne was amazing in the STU net tonight.
Courtesy Dylan Buell

Les Aigles were assessed a 2 minute bench minor at the end of the second period and the Tommies would score on the resulting powerplay early in the third.  Yuri Cheremetiev from Bonneau and Bernier tapped home a centering pass at 2:00 to tie the game.  Charles Lavigne was the difference for the remainder of the period foiling Moncton on several opportunities that seemed like sure goals.

It justed seemed fitting, extra time in the final game.  Overtime saw STU with several chances for the winner but the puck just wouldn't go.  Eric Faille scored the final goal at the LBR at 8:38 and ended a great night of hockey.

I could probably write another 100 paragraphs but not tonight.  Goodbye old friend, thanks for being part of St. Thomas hockey for so many years.  You will be missed.  The 2011-2012 Tommies were a lucky bunch to be the final STU team to play at such a great rink, so much character, so many memories.

Tommies see faint playoff hopes flicker out, prepare to say goodbye to LBR

Kyell Henegan and Felix Poulin chase down the puck
during action against UNB last night.
Courtesy Dylan Buell

Come with us as we turn back the clock to February 12th, 2011.  Imagine, as the Tommies leave the LBR ice following a 6-3 loss to St. F-X, that we told you the Tommies would still be in the playoff hunt with 3 games to play this season.  You might call us crazy.  If you're a Tommies fan, you'd certainly be pleased at the possibility.

Sure enough, that is the position in which St. Thomas found itself tonight, entering Game #26 against the hated Squirrels.  Unfortunately, the Squirrels won 5-0, officially eliminating the Tommies from contention.  Charles Lavigne was valiant in goal, facing 46 shots.

Now, it's not all wine, roses and puppy dogs by any stretch.  The Tommies have 5 wins on the season, just two more than last year, with 2 games to play.  A major reason STU was still in the hunt so late was thanks to St. F-X's underwhelming season.  But we were in the hunt nonetheless.  And there's one thing around this team that wasn't necessarily there one year ago.  Hope.  We've seen good reason for it.  Coach Troy Ryan has instilled a new culture.  Fine rookie performances from the likes of Stephen Sanza, Felix Poulin and Jonathan Bonneau.  Improved team discipline.  A brand new, state of the art building is coming.  There is hope, Tommie Nation.

This season is not yet over.  The Tommies still have two games to go this weekend, including one as big as any this Friday night against Moncton, as the Tommies Men will say farewell to the LBR, those hard bench seats, its sometimes insufficient heat, the Great White Wall, Rum Row, and years and years of wonderful memories.  If there is one game you attend this season, make it Friday night.  Let's pack that old barn and say goodbye by cheering our Tommies on to one final victory.

And keep the hope alive.

Daily Gleaner, VIA UNB Athletics - Reds put run to Tommies
The AQ - ‘They’re the least of our worries;’ Battle of the hill losing streak continues for Tommies

Tommies clinch playoff berth with victory over SMU

With a 5  - 1 win over the SMU Huskies this afternoon at the LBR, the Lady Tommies have clinched a playoff spot and gained an important two points in the standings. Captain Kayla Blackmore led the Tommies with a two goal performance. 

St. Thomas got things rolling early as Katie Brewster (McTaggart, MacIssac) scored at 1:27 on a two on one rush with Cassidy McTaggart.  STU had several other chances in the first period but had to settle for the one goal lead, outshooting the Huskies  7 to 2.

Kayla Blackmore scored on a breakaway with a nifty backhander past Bria Sharkey at 3:05 with an assist to Jordan Miller.  At 16:32 Paige MacDonald (Fox) scored from the point with a seeing eye goal to make it 3 - 0 for STU.  Shots in the second frame favoured the Tommies 14 - 5 as they dominated the majority of the period. 

In the third period STU put the game out of reach with goals from Kayla Blackmore (Fox, Brewster) on the PP at 5:33 and Carly Critch (Bohn, Mastna) at 13:01.  Saint Mary's scored on the PP at 9:03 to break Julia Sharun's shut out bid. 

Rookies MacDonald and Critch each scored their first goal for the Green and Gold.  The Tommies sit one point back of UPEI for 4th place and three back of Mount Alison, who defeated St-FX 3 to 2 this afternoon in Antigonish.  STU's next game will be next Sunday against the Mounties at the LBR.

Tommies keep playoff hopes alive with win over X-Men

If you missed the final matchup of STU vs. ST-FX at the old LBR, well sorry for you, because you missed a dandy.  Tonight's game had a little of everything - scoring, hat tricks, penalty shots, and rough stuff - with STU coming out on top 6 to 3.

The X-Men and Tommies were both desperate for a win tonight and their play showed it.  STU was on the board first at 3:56 when Steve Sanza (Cameron, Bonneau) hammered home a one-timer to get the game rolling.  X replied late in the first when Brennan Wray just barely snuck one by Charles Lavigne in the STU net.  Period ended tied at 1's.

Jordan Scott (Poulin, Cheremetiev) scored on a rebound, as the Tommies retook the lead at 5:21 of the second, but X replied on the powerplay to tie the game again at 11:20.  It stayed that way heading to the third when things would get interesting.

With the playoffs on the line the Tommies came out hard in the final period.  Andrew Andricopoulos (Poulin, Sanza) fired a laser beam from just inside the blueline to retake the lead.  Jonathan Bonneau (Sanza, Poulin) would stretch the lead at 8:27 when he rushed down the left wing side and fired a shot that Joseph Perricone bobbled right into the net. 

St-FX replied back a minute and five seconds later to make the score close again at 4 to 3 but Jonathan Bonneau (Cameron, Van Laren) gobbled up a greasy rebound on a 2 on 1 with Randy Cameron to regain the two goal cushion. 

The fun really started at 15:39 as Jonathan Bonneau was awarded a penalty shot.  Bonneau would deposit the puck five hole for the hat trick and a three goal lead.  This seemed to be the trigger as X brought the dirt shortly after. 

With 2:25 to go in the game Chris Morehouse found himself in front of Perricone, who immediately took exception to his presence, and started swinging.  After 70 minutes of penalties were handed out, none for fighting, the Tommies were awarded a powerplay. 

The peace was short lived as Scott Brannon ran Jordan Scott over and Andrew Andricopoulos, who isn't known for his fighting presence, immediately stepped up to defend his teammate.  Not long after Kyell Henegan came in for a piece of the action as well. All of this took place at 18:07 and another 43 minutes of penalties were handed out.  STU had a two man PP for most of the last 1:53.

Troy Ryan called a time out, settled the troops, and must have told them to play out the third without embarrasing the X-Men, as STU didn't even attempt to shoot the puck on net.

With the win the Tommies sweep the season series with X and pull four points back of them for the final playoff spot in the AUS.  It really was a less than stellar showing for St-FX and their disappointment/frustration got the better of them tonight.  Lets leave it at that.

Huskies blowout Tommies

In their final game at the LBR the Saint Mary's Huskies defeated the Tommies 8 to 2.  The Huskies held period leads of 2 - 0, 4 - 1, and your final of 8 - 2.

Randy Cameron (Reich, Gallant) capitialized on a powerplay late in the second and Christian Morin (Van Laren, Scott), also on the powerplay, scored STU's goals.

The St-FX X-Men make their final appearnce at the Beav tomorrow night at 7 PM.  The game will be live on Tommies TV.