McGill bursts past Moncton in local preseason tournament
The Moncton Aigles Bleues dropped a 6-2 decision to the McGill Martlets on Saturday at the Moncton Women's Hockey Jamboree, allowing McGill its highest scoring output in 38 games. The result leaves Moncton 0-2 in the preseason tournament while the Martlets evened their record at 1-1.
Moncton opened the scoring when Elizabeth Galipeau netted a first-period goal at 5:12, but McGill answered quickly. Katya Blong tied the game at 9:25 and the Martlets seized control in the second period with a three-goal burst that turned a 1-1 game into a 4-1 advantage.
Key contributors for McGill
Two players stood out offensively for the Martlets. Katya Blong and Chloe Blanchard each recorded two goals; Blanchard also added an assist for a three-point outing. Additional scoring came from Taylor Garcia and India Benoit, while veterans and rookies on the back end helped create offence, including two-assist efforts from Mia Giles and rookie Breazzlyn Taylor.
- Final score: McGill 6, Moncton 2
- Moncton goal scorers: Elizabeth Galipeau, Valerie Hache
- McGill multi-point players: Chloe Blanchard (3 points), Taylor Garcia (goal and assist)
Goaltending and game flow
Rookie goaltender Camille Gaudet made 13 saves on 15 shots to earn her first career victory in her first university start. McGill finished with an 18-15 edge in shots. Special teams had little impact: each club had one power-play opportunity and neither converted. The game was disciplined in terms of penalties, with only two minor penalties called (one per team).
| Period | Scoring highlights |
|---|---|
| 1st | Galipeau (Moncton) 5:12; Blong (McGill) 9:25 |
| 2nd | Blanchard 0:27; Garcia 11:28; Blong 16:50 |
| 3rd | Hache (Moncton) 9:36; Blanchard empty-net 17:38; Benoit 19:58 |
What's next for Moncton
Moncton will play Saint Mary's later Sunday at 2 p.m. EDT to close out the three-day jamboree. The team will be seeking adjustments after surrendering three second-period goals that swung momentum in McGill's favour. Coaches and players will be looking to tighten defensive coverage and create more sustained offensive pressure as they prepare for the next matchup.
This local tournament provides early-season evaluation for Atlantic teams and visiting programmes alike. For Moncton fans, it offers a close look at the Aigles Bleues' young roster and areas the team must address as the regular season approaches.
