International: Canada clinches the 4 Nations Trophy
In a finish that perfectly encapsulated the spirit of international hockey, Team Canada secured a pulsating 3-2 overtime victory over Team USA on the back of a show-stopping finish from number 97, centre Connor McDavid. In the stands and across the country, the crowd went wild.
Carving their route to the final, Canada defeated Finland 5-3 and Sweden 4-3 in two back-and-forth showstopping games, but fell short 3-1 to Team USA in their last preliminary fixture. Within nine seconds of the opening buzzer, both Brady and Matthew Tkachuk—brothers from the U.S.—as well as Brandon Hagel of Canada saw the sin bin for dropping their gloves and letting the fireworks rip. Canada could not come away with victory—that is, until the final.
Canada centre Nathan MacKinnon kicked off the scoring in the first period with a nifty wrist shot that nestled into the back of the net. Shortly after, though, USA enforcer Brady Tkachuk tapped in the puck to level the score. The back-and-forth affair saw momentum swings that kept fans on the edge of their seats, with neither team able to establish more than a one-goal advantage throughout regulation time. Midway through the second period, defenseman Jake Sanderson hurled the puck at goal, and it flew in off a slight deflection for a 2-1 lead for the USA. Every shot and every save seemed to echo with championship implications. And that is exactly how it went, with USA centre Sam Bennett shelving an assist from right winger Mitchell Marner to tie the game up in the latter stage of period two.
In the end, it took sudden death overtime to separate the evenly matched sides, with Canada finding that extra gear when it mattered most. With the clock creeping down, at the eight-minute mark of overtime, Team Canada found a moment of brilliance. Fans had their hearts in their mouths as McDavid screamed up the ice to get in position in front of the net. Marner’s hard work in the left corner of the USA defensive area culminated in a smooth flick pass back into the middle of the ice to McDavid, who controlled the puck, pulled back, and released his shot. Everything seemed to move in slow motion. The puck crashed into the net, and Canadians all around the world unleashed a collective cheer.
After a tumultuous month for Canadians in the political sphere following threats from U.S. President Donald Trump, this win was momentous, with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau remarking to the U.S.: “You can’t take our country—and you can’t take our game.”
McGill: Redbirds hockey wrestle a win in the quarter-finals
In a tense quarter-final matchup, the fourth-place McGill Redbirds Hockey secured a crucial 2-1 victory over the fifth-ranked Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières (UQTR) Patriotes in Laval on Wednesday night. Right winger Charles-Antoine Dumont emerged as the hero, netting the game-winning shot with just over three minutes remaining in regulation.
The game, which started 40 minutes late due to a shattered glass pane during warm-ups, showcased McGill’s defensive prowess as they nullified the UQTR attack through each period. Although neither team scored within the first period, forward Alexandre Gagnon opened the scoring midway through the second period, asserting his dominance and swinging momentum in McGill’s favour.
Away days always come with a bit more than what meets the eye, and this game was no smooth skating. UQTR’s forward, Felix Lafrance, evened the score on a power play late in the second, and after a serious battle in the UQTR defensive end, Dumont’s clutch goal off a rebound from centre Xavier Fortin sealed the win for the Redbirds. Goaltender Alexis Shank stood strong with 21 saves, giving McGill their fifth win in six meetings with UQTR this season.The Redbirds proceeded to capitalize on their lead with a dominant 5-2 victory away at Trois-Rivières, sweeping the series and skating proudly into a league semi-final series against Concordia Stingers starting on Feb. 26. Earlier this season, the Redbirds lost to the Stingers 1-3 in a regular season faceoff and 3-7 in the Corey Cup. A high-stakes week lies ahead as the team hopes for redemption and a shot at the final. Fly Birds!
