February 26, 2007 - UQTR vs Ottawa- #1 East vs #4 East- (UQTR wins best of 3 series 2-1) Jonathan Boutins (St. Constant, Quebec) shorthanded goal 9:51 into the second period proved to be the difference as the Patriotes de lUniversit du Qubec Trois-Rivires (UQTR) ended the Ottawa Gee-Gees season with a 4-2 victory in the third and deciding game of their best-of-three OUA mens hockey Eastern Conference semi-final series. Nicolas Dsilets (Nicolet, Quebec), Mathieu Simoneau (Drummondville, Quebec) and Christian Laroche (Victoriaville, Quebec) scored for the Patriotes, while Ottawas Troy Duncan (Ottawa, Ontario) and Mathieu Curadeau (Mascouche, Quebec) replied in a losing cause. The Gee-Gees climbed back from a 3-0 shut out defeat in game one to take the victory and force the third and final game with a 5-2 win over a powerful UQTR squad. Ottawas standout Ben McLeod (Edmonton, Ontario) had 3 assists on the night en route to the victory, while goaltender Martin Bricault turned aside 30 saves in the win.
Game 1- Ottawa 0, UQTR 3
Game 2- UQTR 2, Ottawa 5
Game 3- Ottawa 2, UQTR 4
Toronto vs McGill- #2 East vs #3 East- (Toronto wins best of 3 series 2-0)
50 saves, three goals, two games, and one goalie is all the Toronto Varsity Blues needed to push past the McGill Redmen in their best of three series. Toronto goaltender Ryan Grinnell (Toronto, Ontario) again showed why he is one of the top netminders in the CIS as he boasted two shut out victories, turning aside all 50 pucks the Redmen shot his way. Grinnell carries with him the top goals against average in the country, allowing on average just 2.20 goals per game and has a save percentage of .921. In game one Joe Rands (Hamilton, Ontario) power play goal at 15:47 of the third period was all it took for the Varsity Blues, while game two saw Simon Barg (Ashburn, Ontario) with the game winner, and Mark Wright (Etobicoke, Ontario) adding in the insurance empty netter.
Game 1- Toronto 1, McGill 0
Game 2- McGill 0, Toronto 2
Lakehead vs Laurier- #4 West vs #1 West- (Laurier wins best of 3 series 2-0)
For the second straight year the Laurier Golden Hawks have qualified for the OUA semi-finals. With their fifth win over Lakehead this season the Golden Hawks pushed passed the Thunderwolves in just two games. Chris Di Ubaldo (Winnipeg, Manitoba), a fourth year forward scored a pair of power-play goals in the victory where one would be marked as the game-winner. Di Ubaldo led the province earlier this season in power-play goals, with 10. In game one of the series Lauriers 4-2 victory snapped a 14-0 playoff record over the last six seasons for the Thunderwolves at their own rink. Four different players would score each of the Golden Hawk goals in the game.
Game 1- Laurier 4, Lakehead 2
Game 2- Lakehead 2, Laurier 5
Waterloo vs Western- #2 West vs #3 West- (Waterloo wins best of 3 series 2-1)
Waterloo Warrior Ryan MacGregor (Carleton Place, Ontario) scored a powerplay goal at 14:52 of the third period in game three to give the Warriors the series win over the Western Mustangs this past Sunday night. Despite a gutsy attempt on the road from the Mustangs they fall victims for the second consecutive year in the second round of the playoffs. Ryan Walder (Edmonton, Alberta) who was the hero in game two with the double overtime Western victory, scored the lone goal for the Mustangs in game three and also took a holding penalty late in the third which led to the Warriors triumph. Waterloos Curtis Darling (Creemore, Ontario) was sensational in the win turning aside 36 of 37 Mustang shots, stopping in total 107 pucks in the series.
Game 1- Western 2, Waterloo 3
Game 2- Waterloo 2, Western 3 OT
Game 3- Western 1, Waterloo 2