The Queen's Gaels men's hockey team secured a gritty 3-1 victory over the McGill Redbirds on Saturday night at the Memorial Centre. With the win, the Gaels improve to 18-5 on the season and remain in the hunt for the top spot in the OUA East standings, just three points behind Concordia.

The game promised to be a physical affair, with these two programs being fierce rivals for decades. The Gaels, fresh off a 5-2 win against the RMC Paladins, welcomed back key players Nolan Hutcheson (Health Studies), team captain Jack Duff (Arts & Science) and Head Coach Brett Gibson from their gold medal-winning stint with Team Canada at the FISU World Cup.

The first period saw strong pressure from Queen's, consistently funneling pucks to the net and maintaining good rebound control. Despite turnovers in the neutral zone, the Gaels managed to keep the game scoreless, with Christian Purboo (Arts & Science) looking stable in net. The period ended 0-0, setting the stage for an intense second period.

Just two minutes into the second period, Queen's broke the deadlock as Dharan Cap (Arts & Science) jammed home a loose puck in front of the net, assisted by Daniel Michaud (Arts & Science) and Owen Lalonde (Arts & Science). The Gaels improved their breakouts and puck management, leading to sustained offensive pressure. Midway through the period, Michaud went coast-to-coast and fired a snap shot from the top of the circle, doubling the lead to 2-0. The period closed with Queen's holding a comfortable lead.

The third period saw continued strong play from Purboo, who made crucial saves to preserve the lead. The Gaels went on the power play after a boarding call on McGill, but struggled to establish control. A cross-checking penalty on Cameron Tolnai (Business) put Queen's on the penalty kill with five minutes to play. McGill capitalized on the PK with a shorthanded goal to make it 2-1 with two minutes to play. However, on the ensuing draw, Queen's broke into McGill territory, and Lalonde's point shot was deflected in front by Hutcheson for his league-leading 17th goal of the season, sealing the 3-1 victory.

3 Stars of the Game:

1st Star - Dharan Cap: Scored his first goal of the season  and assisted on the game-winner, showcasing a strong offensive performance.

2nd Star - Christian Purboo: Carried a shutout into the final two minutes, making 24 saves and providing a stable presence in net.

3rd Star - Daniel Michaud: Scored the game-winning goal and added an assist, continuing a strong stretch of play.

With the victory, the Gaels will next face the Guelph Gryphons at home on February 1st. Fans can catch the action live at the Memorial Centre or on OUA.tv.

Also a reminder that Queen's Men's Hockey will face off against the RMC Paladins in the historic Carr-Harris Cup on February 7 at 7:30 PM, held at the Slush Puppie Place. Tickets are available for purchase on the Queen's ticket website above.