The Queen's Gaels men's hockey team battled to a hard-fought 3-2 victory over the UQTR Patriotes on Friday night at the Memorial Centre, extending their win streak to five games and snapping a seven-game losing skid against the Patriotes dating back to the 2019-20 season. With the win, the Gaels improve to 14-3 on the season and remain a dominant force in the OUA East standings, now ranked fifth in U SPORTS.

The Gaels entered the game determined to reverse their fortunes against UQTR, showing grit and discipline in a contest defined by high-energy forechecking, physical battles, and stellar goaltending. Queen's goaltender Christian Purboo (Arts & Science) was instrumental, delivering another standout performance just a week after his season-high 45-save effort against TMU.

Both teams opened the first period with a measured pace, trading scoring opportunities while focusing on defensive structure. Despite several early breakaway saves by Purboo, it was UQTR that broke the deadlock. Conor Frenette buried his 13th goal of the season on a delayed penalty call in the final minutes of the first, capitalizing on crisp puck movement from Olivier Boutin and Vincent Milot-Ouellet.

The Gaels responded just two minutes later. Daniel Michaud (Arts & Science) finished off a play set up by a sharp pass from Holden Katzalay (Arts & Science) and a precise breakout from Owen Lalonde (Arts & Science). Michaud's goal, his third of the season, tied the game 1-1 heading into the intermission.

Early in the second period, Queen's gained momentum with a go-ahead goal from Hayden Fowler (Arts & Science), who found the net from the slot after a brilliant setup by Cameron Tolnai (Business). UQTR, however, was quick to respond, as Anthony Turcotte capitalized on a defensive lapse to tie the game at 2-2.

The game-winning goal came just minutes later during a power play. Tolnai tapped in a perfectly executed rush from Lalonde, with Tanner (Kinesiology) picking up the secondary assist. Queen's penalty kill faced its biggest test late in the period after back-to-back boarding calls left the team short-handed for an extended 5-on-3. The unit held strong, anchored by Purboo and Lalonde's shot-blocking.

The third period saw UQTR ramp up offensive pressure, but Purboo stood tall, making 13 saves in the final frame and 28 overall. Defenders like Jack Duff (Arts & Science) and Lalonde ensured UQTR was kept to the perimeter, while timely clears and disciplined play sealed the victory.

The Gaels will look to continue their winning streak Saturday night as they host the Waterloo Warriors at the Memorial Centre. The game offers a quick turnaround, but with the momentum of five straight wins, Queen's remains poised to build on its impressive season.

3 Stars of the Game

1st Star – Christian Purboo:
The Gaels' netminder delivered another stellar outing, stopping 28 of 30 shots and showcasing exceptional poise under pressure. Purboo's sprawling pad save on a UQTR breakaway in the second period preserved the lead and shifted momentum in Queen's favor. His consistent presence in goal is a cornerstone of the team's success this season.

2nd Star – Cameron Tolnai:
Tolnai played a pivotal role in the victory, recording a goal and an assist while creating several high-danger chances. His tap-in game-winner on the power play was the product of excellent positioning in front of the net, demonstrating his value as a leader on the ice.

3rd Star – Owen Lalonde:
Lalonde was an all-around force on both ends of the ice. He contributed two key assists, including a perfectly timed breakout pass that led to Michaud's opening goal. Defensively, Lalonde's positioning and shot-blocking were critical in shutting down UQTR's power play opportunities, particularly during the 5-on-3 penalty kill late in the second period.