RECAP: Gee-Gees drop shootout thriller at Colonel By Classic

With just 90 seconds to go in regulation, a second consecutive victory at the Colonel By Classic seemed to be a sure thing for the University of Ottawa Gee-Gees men’s hockey team.

Gee-Gee player on the ice.
Greg Mason
November 17, 2018
With just 90 seconds to go in regulation, a second consecutive victory at the Colonel By Classic seemed to be a sure thing for the University of Ottawa Gee-Gees men's hockey team.
 
Holding a one-goal lead, Ottawa forced a turnover at the blue line just as the Carleton Ravens were pulling their goaltender. A long shot from 100 feet out couldn't find the open net, and a diving François Brassard returned in time to foil a rebound.
 
The opportunity would prove haunting for the Garnet and Grey. Carleton stormed up ice the following face-off, tying the game seconds later and eventually skating away with the banner in overtime.
 
"Having a two goal lead with five minutes to go, usually we bear down and get the job done," Head Coach Patrick Grandmaître said following the game. "That's hockey, you can't expect to always fall on the good side of these games. They're a good team and deserving of that win, it was a good intense game."
 
The opening period of the Colonel By Classic featured a goaltenders duel with Brassard going toe-to-toe with Anthony Brodeur, who turned in his best performance of the season so far.
 
Brodeur stole the show midway through the frame, with a defensive miscue leading to a two-man breakaway while shorthanded, stretching across the crease and flashing the leather in time to make the hall of fame worthy save.
Ottawa finally invigorated the crowd midway through the game as Kevin Domingue drove towards the net and powered his way through a pair of Ravens
before potting the puck in the back of the net.
 
Minutes later, Marc Beckstead hoped out of the box and flung a pass to a streaking Quinn O'Brien, who tapped in his own rebound to double the lead.
 
A power play goal from Cody Drover midway though the third period, appeared to give Ottawa secure control of the game before Carleton battled back with a pair.
 
The Ravens pressured in the extra frame, though Brodeur continued to be up to the task — making several key saves.
In the shootout, a pair of goals from Carleton necessitated a response from Jean-François Plante to keep the game alive. The veteran stumbled in his initial stride, to the delight of the Carleton supporters, but Plante quickly recovered and silenced the crowd with a goal to keep Ottawa's hopes alive.
 
A save from Brodeur gave Yvan Mongo the chance to force another round, but the rookie forward was stymied on his shot to clinch a Carleton victory.
 
Despite the loss, Ottawa continues to lead the pack atop the OUA East at 9-0-2 and remains just one of two teams in the country yet to fall in regulation.
 
Looking ahead, Ottawa will look to immediately bounce back with a home game against the Concordia Stingers in the first meeting between the division rivals this season.
 
"It's hard to be super positive about tomorrow," Grandmaître said. "But tomorrow we'll wake up and say, 'We just need to get back on our horse and play the way we play.'"
 
—Cameron Penney