(19/01/25) - Montreal, QC., The Queen's Gaels Men's Hockey team close out a frustrating weekend in Montreal after being defeated 1-5 against the McGill Redbirds the previous evening, followed by a physical game against their developing rivals ending in a 2-5 loss for the Gaels. With two of the Gaels lead players, no. 1 Jack Duff (Biology) and no. 19 Nolan Hutcheson (Health Studies), along with Head Coach Brett Gibson, away in Italy for the 2025 FISU games, the Gaels struggled to come out of the weekend with a victory. The three pieces to the Gaels successful puzzle so far this season faced-off against Japan in FISU quarter-finals at the same time as the Gaels meeting with the Stingers. Canada swept Japan 9-1, with Hutcheson's line accumulating 12 points overall. Gaels starting goalie no. 37 Christian Purboo (Economics) also had a frustrating weekend, allowing a total of 10 goals to be added to his season record of now 37.  The Gaels have only seven more games of the regular season, and will look to swiftly move forward after this past weekend. 

Starting 14 of the past 21 games for the Gaels, Purboo started off strong against the Stingers, saving 11 of 13 shots at his net in the first period. The first period began with a power play for the Gaels only five minutes after stepping onto the ice. The Stingers are known to posses a strong pk-unit, although the Gaels produced numerous opportunites for themselves. Coming straight out of the box, the Stingers get past Purboo and take an early lead. The Gaels catch another power play opportunity after Stinger player sends Gaels defencemen into Purboo causing a goalie interference with five minutes left in the first. The Gaels were unable to get past the Stingers sturdy pk-unit.  After beating out the Gaels power play unit, the Stingers score a backhander increasing their lead 2-0. This did not diminish the Gaels's momentum as no. 25 Hayden Fowler (Health Studies) finds an opportunity from a broken play with 30 seconds left in the opening period. Fowler was assisted by no. 27 Michael Renwick (Arts and Sciences) and no. 10 Cameron Tolnai (Business). The opening period saw numerous long pass attempts at the net, and closed with the Stingers leading in shots on goal 13-9.

The second half opened looking promising for the Gaels as they only trailed by one, although the with a quick pass across the crease, the Stingers scored just a minute and 30 after puck drop. This goal was quickly followed by a backhand just crossing past Purboo's left shoulder into the corner of the net bringing the score to 4-1. With two unanswered goals early in the second period, the Stingers try and succeed at yet another goal forcing no. 34 Aiden Spooner (Business) to enter the net and replace Purboo. With only one shot attempt for the Gaels so far in the period, the Gaels looked to re-calibrate their strategy against their opponents as frustrations rose. Spooner stayed strong through two Stinger power plays. With four minutes left in the second, a great pass by Tolnai to no. 29 Daniel Michaud (Arts and Sciences) results in a Gaels goal, bringing the Gaels back into the game after three unanswered goals.  A cross-check by no. 44 Lucas Peric (Economics) allows the Stingers a sixth power play to end the second, starting the third down a man. The Stingers led shots on goal 28-13, although they were unable to convert their numerous power play opportunities into points on the board as their strategies had become somewhat predictable for the Gaels. 

The third period was an intense physical battle between both teams and saw no goals. The Stingers saw six of their nine penalties called during the third after a large brawl occurred with four minutes of game-play left. This brawl saw no. 13 Sam Marburg (Arts and Sciences) and a Stingers player sent to the locker room for the evening, and a five-on-three power play for the Gaels. The Gaels were unable to catch back up on the scoreboard to the Stingers, and the game ended with a 5-2 loss and a total of 34 shots on goal for the Stingers while the Gaels chased down the lead with 18. 

Catch the Queen's Gaels Hockey team next as they take on their Kingston rivals, the RMC Paladin's, in a bound-to-be exciting face-off on January 24th at 7:00 PM live from the Constantine Arena in Kingston, ON., or livestream on OUA.TV.