parpho@rogers.com

1/3/2012 9:40:00 PM
KINGSTON, Ont. (January 3, 2012) – The Queen's Gaels (7-7-1) kicked off the New Year with a 3-1 win over the visiting RMC Paladins (2-13-1) on Tuesday night at the Memorial Centre in Kingston, Ontario.

With over a month in between games the Gaels shook off the rust after a scoreless first frame as the team scored three times in the second in an eventual 3-1 win. In his first game of action since October 19, assistant captain Payton Liske of Fonthill, Ont. made his return a memorable one adding a goal and an assist. Corey Bureau of Amherstview, Ont. chipped in with a goal and two assists of his own while Riley Whitlock of Calgary got the win with 21 saves.

The Paladins were led by Scott Domenico of Ottawa who scored the lone goal for RMC. Andrew Fleming of Quispamsis, N.B. made 31 saves in a losing effort.

In the first period the Gaels managed to kill off two late penalties thanks to the impressive work of Gaels starting netminder Whitlock who robbed a Paladin forward by diving to his right and sprawling on the puck keeping the game all square at 0-0. The Gaels outshot the Paladins 11 to six in the opening frame.

In the second period, shortly after killing off a Paladins power play, Corey and Liske took the puck down ice on a two on one. The two forwards then exchanged great back and forth passes before Liske scored through the legs of RMC starting netminder Fleming. A few minutes later it was Tyler Moore of Winnipeg who made it 2-0 with assists from Corey and Patrick McEachen of Stouffville, Ont. With only 4:04 remaining in the period Corey broke down the left wing and went short side past Fleming to make it 3-0. Liske added the lone assist on the play. The Paladins would cut into the Gaels lead with only 15.5 seconds remaining in the period when Domenico got his seventh goal of the season with a shot that went off the post and in past Whitlock.

The Gaels stuck to a defensive game in the third as they held on for the 3-1 win.