(09/11/24) - Kingston, ON., The Queen's Gaels Men's Hockey team fall 5-1 to the Ottawa Gee-Gee's in their final game of the weekend on their home ice of Kingston Memorial Center.  Winning the evening prior 6-2 against the Gee-Gee's city rivals, the Carleton Ravens, the Gaels were not able to keep that streak going and dominate.  With the Gee-Gee's facing off against the RMC Paladins the previous evening, the Gee-Gee's left the rink leading 1-0 after a suspension of play for the game was called.  

The game began with the Gaels appearing strong on their attack with good fore-checking keeping the Gee-Gee's on their heels early on.  Attempting to take the lead early in the game, Gaels no. 17 Holden Katzalay (Computing) shot a stinger on the Gee-Gee's net, but the puck did not find an entry point to score.  

After two penalties by the Gee-Gee's, the Gaels are gifted the first power play of the evening, going five on three against their opponents hoping to create the same energy their penalty-kill unit saw the previous evening against the Ravens, with Gaels no. 19 Nolan Hutcheson (Health Studies) scoring on three of six power play opportunities.  Although Ottawa struggled to clear the puck out of their zone, the Gaels were unable to capitalize on any of their attempts on net during their first power play of the evening.  

Quickly after the Gaels, the Gee-Gee's saw a power play for themselves after an extra-attacker penalty was called on the Gaels.  With over halfway of the first period now behind them, the Gee-Gee's focused on scoring on the short-handed Gaels, while the Gaels defended their position.  The Gee-Gee's ended the power play unsuccessful, though were granted another shortly after.  The Gaels killed both penalties not letting the Gee-Gee's take the lead.  The first period did not have much five on five play, similar to the second period played in last nights game.  No. 44 Lucas Peric (Economics) saved a major shot in front of the net for Gaels goalie no. 37 Christian Purboo (Economics), keeping the score null.  The Gaels sharpness on the penalty kill kept the score at 0-0 with six shots on net for the Gee-Gee's and three for the Gaels despite heavy power play action. 

Five minutes into the second, and both teams still unable to capitalize on net.  Despite neither team testing the goalies as much as they should be, both teams appeared extremely physical in their fight to mark up the score sheet first with lots of hard hits to find an advantage.  

10 minutes into the second, the Gee-Gee's scored on Purboo through traffic in front of the net, tipping the puck deep into the net and taking the 1-0 lead over the Gaels.  With Queen's unable to find the edge they once had, they now had to search for a way to build momentum in order to find a lead at the halfway mark of the game.  

After a misconduct hit, no. 28 Kolton Cousins (Arts and Sciences) sat in the box for 10 minutes, and no. 29 Daniel Michaud (Arts and Sciences) sat with him for two for ruffing.  With 7:20 left in the second period, the Gee-Gee's score on the short-handed Gaels, increasing their lead to 2-0.

The Gaels showed great physicality in the second but are not finding the chances at net that they usually do in order to score a goal for themselves.  With the Gee-Gee's pressuring the Gaels into awkward positions, forcing them into icing, the Gaels line was exhausted, unable to catch a break from the Gee-Gee's presence.  A great chance to tie the game occurred with just over a minute left in the game, although Gee-Gee's goalie stretched across the crease just in time to deflect the puck away.  With seven saves for Purboo and eight for the Gee-Gee's goalie, the Gaels outshot the Gee-Gee's though were unable to dominate otherwise, keeping the score of 2-0 going into the third.

The Gaels were quick to attack in the opening minutes of the third period as a minute and a half in, Katzalay roofs the puck deep into the Gee-Gee's net.  The Gaels hoped this goal would put the steam in the engine to get a few more to take the lead, although the rest of the third proved otherwise.  Both teams visibly frustrated with each other wound up in a brawl that resulted in two penalties against the Gaels and one against the Gee-Gee's.  Only seconds after the power play ended did the Gee-Gee's retaliate off a rebound, further securing their lead 3-1.  Two additional goals are scored by the Gee-Gee's at 14:45 and 17:34 minutes into the third, racking up the final score of 5-1.  A brawl at the whistle solidified the two teams discontent for each other and the outcome of the match.  

Though the Gaels fell 5-1, they put up a tremendous effort against the Gee-Gee's, only trailing behind by six shots on goal difference - 26 for the Gee-Gee's and 20 for the Gaels.  The Gaels now sit third in the OUA standings with the season record of 9-3. Catch the Queen's Men's Hockey team on OUA.TV on November, 16th as they face off against the York Lions.