Hockey Martlets open defence of national title tonight, look for 106th consecutive win

MONTREAL -- The defending national champion McGill women’s hockey team will be looking to extend their 105-game win streak against Quebec league opponents when they open up regular season play by hosting the Concordia Stingers tonight. Puck drop at McConnell Arena is 7 p.m. and the game will be webcast live on SSN Canada (www.ssncanada.ca/games).



Head coach Peter Smith has returned for his 12th season and will be looking to post his 301st career victory.



McGill is coming off an unblemished 33-0 record against CIS opponents last year, including a 20-0 mark in the Quebec conference, their fourth consecutive perfect season. The 2011-12 edition features a well-balanced roster with seven freshmen, six sophomores, five juniors and six seniors.



Returning for her fifth season in goal is Charline Labonté, a native of Boisbriand, Que., who owns almost every McGill goaltending record. She has racked up a 66-1-0 lifetime regular season mark in a McGill uniform, with a CIS record 37 shutouts, a 0.64 goals-against average and a .962 save percentage. Her only loss in conference play was a 2-1 decision at Ottawa in her freshman year on Feb. 10, 2007. It also marked the last time that the Martlets have lost to a Quebec league opponent.



On the blue line, the Martlets are anchored by team captain and McGill female athlete of the year Cathy Chartrand of Lac Nominingue, Que., and sophomore Gillian Ferrari of Thornhill, Ont., both former members of the Canadian national team.



Up front, the Martlets are led by fifth-year veterans Ann-Sophie Bettez of Sept-Iles, Que., and Jordanna Peroff of Keswick, Ont. Bettez, a former CIS rookie of the year, was voted league MVP in her sophomore season, while Peroff was named CIS tournament MVP at the Nationals last spring. Among the freshmen to watch is highly-recruited Melodie Daoust, a 19-year-old from Valleyfield, Que., who has played with the Canadian U-18 program.



FANS CAN FOLLOW LIVE STATS FOR ALL RSEQ HOCKEY GAMES AT:

http://www.leaguestat.com/qssf/femmes/en/stats/schedule.php







SOURCE:

Earl Zukerman