Box Score Despite a spectacular 30-save performance from Brett Willows, the Varsity Blues men’s hockey team dropped a 2-1 overtime decision to the McGill Redmen on Friday, February 1 at Varsity Arena.

 With the loss, the Blues drop to 12-8-5 on the season, but earn a point to move ahead of the Nipissing Lakers and Ottawa Gee-Gees for sole possession of fourth in the OUA East division.

 Willows came into tonight’s action with an impressive 0.930 save percentage. The second-year native of Rivers, Man., padded that total, with a remarkable 30 save performance. Fellow sophomore Tyler Liukkonen (Sault Ste Marie) had the Blues lone goal, assisted by team captain Matt Walters (Winnipeg).

 While the first half of the game was short on goals, it did not lack in excitement, as both teams entertained a raucous Friday night crowd. The Blues played a physical first twenty minutes, including monstrous hits by Cassidy Preston (North Bay), Robert Kay (Orono, Ont.), and Tim Halloran (Scarborough). Willows showed he was sharp early, sliding across to rob Marc-Olivier Vachon on a one-timer from the slot.

 The second period featured more brilliance from the Blues netminder, who made a flurry of saves on first-year Redmen forward David Rose. It would take the Redmen more than half the game to solve Willows, who had no hope of stopping Benoit Levesque on a quick snap shot from the slot.  

The Blues would head into the final period trailing by a goal, but at 12:50 on the man advantage, Liukkonen managed to get his stick on a point shot from Walters and deflect it behind Redmen goaltender Andrew Flemming to tie the game at 1-1.  

Toronto carried that momentum through most of the third, with several chances to take the lead, but they were unable to cash and a costly penalty in the final seconds sent them into extra minutes down a man.  

The Redmen took advantage just 20 seconds into the overtime period. Willows made the initial pad save, but Rose was there to bury the rebound and give McGill the 2-1 victory.

Rose led the Redmen offensively, picking up two points in the win.

 The Blues are back at it tomorrow night (Feb. 2) when they host the East division leading UQTR Patriotes at Varsity Arena. Puck drop is 7:30 p.m.

 
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