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Canada West roundup: Alberta finishes third at University Cup
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Ben Kilgour - Alberta
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EDMONTON - It was over almost before it started. Representing Canada West Hockey at the 47th Annual CIS University Cup tournament in Thunder Bay, Ontario, the University of Alberta Golden Bears fell behind 5-1 after the first period of their opening game against the University of New Brunswick Varsity Reds on Thursday, March 26th and would never recover in their bid for a 14th national title.
Alberta, who was making its CIS record 33rd University Cup appearance, fell behind early in the rematch of the 2008 championship final that saw the Golden Bears defeat New Brunswick 3-2. The Varsity Reds scored early and often as they built a 5-1 first period lead on their way to a 6-3 victory in the opening game of pool play. Following the loss to New Brunswick, Alberta was hoping to repeat their success of a season ago when they became the first team to advance to the University Cup Final with a 1-1 record following the pool round robin.
The Golden Bears not only needed to defeat Lakehead University in their second game on Friday, March 27th, but Alberta had to beat the host Thunderwolves by several goals and hope that Lakehead would then defeat New Brunswick in the final game of the pool round robin on Saturday. Led by goals off the sticks of Derek Ryan and Chad Klassen, and the goaltending of Aaron Sorachan, the Golden Bears were able to accomplish the first half of their task as they skated to a 2-1 win over Lakehead, but the one-goal margin of victory was too little, too late. Alberta ended the tournament with a 1-1-0 record and was outscored 7-5 to finish in second place in Pool A.
The Varsity Reds received goals from five different players, including four freshmen, in the opening 20 minutes of play on Friday night at Fort William Gardens. New Brunswick opened the scoring at 7:20 of the first period on a goal by Dion Campbell and continued their onslaught against Alberta with goals by Luke Lynes and Lachan MacIntosh two minutes apart at 9:10 and 11:10, respectively.
Sophomore center Derek Ryan cued an Alberta comeback with his first of two goals at 12:36 of the opening period, but the Varsity Reds extended their lead to 5-1 with goals from Jordan Clendenning and Jimmy Duddihy before the period ended.
Alberta scored twice in the second period on goals by Ryan and linemate Chad Klassen, but could not come closer as the Varsity Reds sealed the victory with MacIntosh's second goal of the game at 13:02 of the third period.
Ryan led the Golden Bears with a three-point game, as he scored twice and earned an assist on Klassen's goal. Klassen also had a multiple-point game as he finished with a goal and an assist. Eric Hunter earned the lone assist on Ryan's second period goal.
Needing a win to remain alive in the tournament, Alberta evened their record at 1-1-0 with a 2-1 victory over Lakehead on Friday. Ben Kilgour, playing in his final game as a Golden Bear, opened the scoring with a powerplay goal at 14:46 of the first period. The Golden Bears had several quality chances to extend their lead in the second period but could not beat Thunderwolves netminder Chris Whitley until Klassen scored his second goal of the tournament 10 minutes into the third period.
Up by only two goals and needing more to improve their goal differential, Alberta head coach Eric Thurston pulled Sorochan for the extra attacker in the dying seconds of the game, but the Golden Bears move backfired as Shandor Alphonso scored a powerplay goal into an empty net with 15 seconds remaining.
Sorochan made 32 saves to earn his 97th career win in his final game with Alberta. Sorochan finished his Golden Bears career with an overall record of 97-27-2 in 130 career games.
Ryan and Klassen led the Golden Bears offence in the two University Cup games as the linemates combined to score seven of Alberta's 11 points. Ryan led the way with 2-2-4 and Klasen tallied 2-1-3.
Goal differential did not come into play to determine the winner of Pool A as New Brunswick would go on to defeat Lakehead 3-1 and take first place with a 2-0-0 record. The University of Western Ontario Mustangs scored five goals in the third period on their way to a 7-2 win over the Atlantic University Sport champion Saint Mary's Huskies on Saturday afternoon to claim first place in Pool B on goal differential.
Western Ontario, Saint Mary's and the McGill University Redmen all finished round robin play in Pool B with 1-1-0 records, but the Mustangs earned first place based on goal differential. Entering the third period tied 2-2 with Saint Mary's, Western Ontario needed to win by at least three goals to finish first in the pool and the Mustangs responded to the challenge with five goals in the final frame.
New Brunswick claimed its third CIS University Cup national championship, and the Varsity Reds second in the last three seasons, with a 4-2 win over Western Ontario on Sunday before a crowd of 2,715. Lachlan MacIntosh netted a hat trick, including the game winning goal at 10:24 of the third period, to lead the way for New Brunswick.
SASKATCHEWAN'S STEVEN DaSILVA AND ERIC THURSTON OF ALBERTA WIN CIS AWARDS: Saskatchewan Huskies forward Steven DaSilva and Alberta Golden Bears head coach Eric Thurston were named the winners of two CIS awards at the annual CIS awards banquet held prior to the University Cup tournament.
DaSilva became the third member of the Huskies to win the Clare Drake Award as the CIS Outstanding Freshman. The Canada West Hockey scoring champion, enjoyed a stellar first season in CIS Hockey as he earned three conference trophies and was in the running for two national awards. DaSilva was also the conference's nominee for the Senator Joseph A. Sullivan Trophy, which is awarded to the CIS outstanding player. He joins defenceman Jason Becker (1995-96) and forward Dean Beuker (2002-03) as Huskies who have won the Clare Drake Award.
Thurston, who has an overall career coaching record of 127-38-4 (.763), becomes the fourth Golden Bears coach to be earn the Father George Kehoe Memorial Award as the CIS Coach of the Year. In his fourth season behind the Alberta bench, Thurston guided the Golden Bears to their 47th Canada West Hockey championship and a trip to the CIS University Cup tournament in 2008-09 and finished the season with a 32-11-0 record. Twice named Canada West Hockey Coach-of-the-Year, Thurston has led Alberta to two national championships in three trips to the University Cup tournament in his four seasons with Alberta. He joins a prestigious list of Alberta coaches who have earned the award; Rob Daum (2000-01, 2003-04), Bill Moores (1983-84, 1990-91) and Clare Drake (1974-75, 1987-88).
Other Canada West Hockey players in the running for CIS awards were Alberta forward Derek Ryan (R.W. Pugh Award, which is awarded to the player who best combines athletic ability and sportsmanship) and Kyle Ross of the Regina Cougars, who was in the running for the Dr. Randy Gregg Award, given to the player who best combines excellence in athletics, academics and community service.
CANADA WEST HOCKEY PLAYERS EARN NATIONAL RECOGNITION: A total of five Canada West Hockey players were recognized for their outstanding play during the season as they were selected to the 2008-09 CIS All-Canadian Teams. Alberta, Calgary, Regina and Saskatchewan had players honored at the CIS University Cup awards banquet held in Thunder Bay, Ontario on Wednesday, March 25th.
Canada West Hockey MVP and Freshman of the Year, Steven DaSilva of the Saskatchewan Huskies and Alberta Golden Bears goaltender, Aaron Sorochan, were named CIS first team All-Canadians, while forward Chad Klassen of Alberta and Calgary Dinos defenceman, Travis Friedley were selected CIS second team All-Canadians.
DaSilva and Regina Cougars blueliner, Dylan Chapman were selected to the CIS All-Freshman Team.
NATIONAL AWARD WINNERS: Following is a list of the 2008-09 CIS Award winners, All-Canadian and All-Freshman teams and the University Cup MVP and all-tournament teams.
2008-09 CIS AWARD WINNERS
Senator Joseph A. Sullivan Trophy (CIS Outstanding Player) - Marc Rancourt (F), Saint Mary's Huskies
Clare Drake Award (CIS Outstanding Freshman) - Steven DaSilva (F), Saskatchewan Huskies
R.W. Pugh Award (Most Sportsmanlike Player) - Dan McDonald (F), Ottawa Gee-Gees
Dr. Randy Gregg Award (Excellence in Athletics, Academics & Community Service) - Andrew Brown (F), Lakehead Thunderwolves
Father George Kehoe Memorial Award (CIS Coach-of-the-Year) - Eric Thurston, Alberta Golden Bears
2008-09 CIS ALL-CANADIAN TEAM
Goaltenders
Kevin Lachance, Moncton Aigles Bleus
Aaron Sorochan, Alberta Golden Bears
Defence
Travis Friedley, Calgary Dinos
Andrew Hotham, Saint Mary's Huskies
Scott Hotham, Saint Mary's Huskies
Kyle Sonnenburg, Waterloo Warriors
Forwards
Steven DaSilva, Saskatchewan Huskies
Chad Klassen, Alberta Golden Bears
Marc Rancourt, Saint Mary's Huskies
Jean-Michel Rizk, Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks
Hunter Tremblay, New Brunswick Varsity Reds
Mark Voakes, Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks
2008-09 CIS ALL-FRESHMAN TEAM
Goal: Jean-Christophe Blanchard, Trois-Rivieres Patriotes
Defence: Dylan Chapman, Regina Cougars
Defence: Jean-Philippe Paquet, Moncton Aigles Bleus
Forward: Steven DaSilva, Saskatchewan Huskies
Forward: Jonathan Laberge, Acadia Axemen
Forward: Alexandre Picard-Hooper, McGill Redmen
2008-09 CIS UNIVERSITY CUP ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
MVP: Lachlan MacIntosh (F), New Brunswick Varsity Reds
Goal: Travis Fullerton, New Brunswick Varsity Reds
Defence: Dustin Friesen, New Brunswick Varsity Reds
Defence: Chris Petrow, Western Ontario Mustangs
Forward: Kyle Bailey, New Brunswick Varsity Reds
Forward: Lachlan MacIntosh, New Brunswick Varsity Reds
Forward: Joe McCann, Western Ontario Mustangs
2008-09 CIS UNIVERSITY CUP PLAYERS OF THE GAME
Game 1: Andrew Hotham (D), Saint Mary's Huskies & Ken Morin (D), McGill Redmen
Game 2: Lachlan MacIntosh (F), New Brunswick Varsity Reds & Derek Ryan (F), Alberta Golden Bears
Game 3: Alexandre Picard-Hooper (F), McGill Redmen & Kyle Lamb (F), Western Ontario Mustangs
Game 4: Aaron Sorochan (G), Alberta Golden Bears & Chris Whitley (G), Lakehead Thunderwolves
Game 5: Kevin Baker (F), Western Ontario Mustangs & Justin Munden (F), Saint Mary's Huskies
Game 6: Kyle Bailey (F), New Brunswick Varsity Reds & Chris Whitley (G), Lakehead Thunderwolves
Game 7; Championship Final: Lachlan MacIntosh (F), New Brunswick Varsity Reds & Joe McCann (F), Western Ontario Mustangs
CANADA WEST HOCKEY PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Sophomore forward DEREK RYAN of the University of Alberta Golden Bears has been named the Canada West Hockey Player of the Week for the week ending March 29, 2009. The 5'10", 180-pound Physical Education student from Spokane, Washington led the Golden Bears to a 1-1-0 record and a third place finish at the 2009 CIS University Cup tournament in Thunder Bay, Ontario from March 26th to 29th. RYAN, a second team Canada West Hockey all-star, led Alberta in scoring with four points in two games at the national tournament. The second-year center was involved in all three Golden Bears goals in Alberta's 6-3 loss to the eventual University Cup champion New Brunswick Varsity Reds on Thursday, March 26th, scoring twice and earning an assist on linemate Chad Klassen's goal. He rounded out the tournament with a second assist on Klassen's game-winning goal in a 2-1 victory over the host Lakehead Thunderwolves on Friday, March 27th. The four-points gives RYAN 23-28-51 in 39 games overall this season.
Source:
Steve Knowles
Canada West Hockey Statistician
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