GMHL Game of the Week: December 16 - 22

Game of the Week: West Nipissing Lynx vs. Le Becard De Senneterre
Sunday, December 22nd, 2024 – André Dubé Sport Centre, Senneterre, QC

Le Becard De Senneterre edged out the West Nipissing Lynx 4-3 in an overtime thriller, our final game of the week of the year 2024, highlighted by a hat trick from Jordan Paul. Le Becard dominated in shots on goal and leveraged their home-ice advantage, while the Lynx relied on goaltender Terry See to stay competitive. The back-and-forth affair showcased grit and determination from both squads, with Le Becard ultimately securing the win in front of their energized fans.

Game Summary

First Period

West Nipissing struck first, with Zachary Major scoring at 2:49 off a setup from Mathias Drolet and Xavier Borgia. However, Le Becard responded in dramatic fashion as Jordan Paul converted a penalty shot at 9:18 to tie the game 1-1. The period ended on a sour note for the Lynx as Easton Stanley received a game disqualification for unsportsmanlike conduct, leaving his team shorthanded.

Second Period

Le Becard wasted no time capitalizing on Stanley’s absence. Just 38 seconds into the period, Paul struck again, scoring a shorthanded goal assisted by Malick St-Pierre and Olivier Macameau-St-Arneault to give Senneterre a 2-1 lead. The Lynx showed resilience, tying the game at 3:39 with their own shorthanded tally from Riley Brunet, assisted by Major and Drolet. Both teams traded penalties, but neither could capitalize on power-play opportunities.

Third Period

Senneterre reclaimed the lead at 4:59 on a power-play goal by Malick St-Pierre, with assists from Alexis Brulé and Vincent Provost. The Lynx refused to back down, tying the game at 5:59 when Sergey Tishchenko found the back of the net, assisted by Tyler Thibodeau and Vladyslav Teroshyn. The teams remained deadlocked, with Senneterre outshooting West Nipissing 13-15 in the period, setting up a tense overtime.

Overtime

In the extra frame, Jordan Paul completed his hat trick with an unassisted game-winner at 16:49, cementing himself as the hero of the night. The Lynx managed just two shots in overtime, unable to solve Senneterre’s goaltending when it mattered most.

Goaltending Battle

Terry See was outstanding for the Lynx, stopping 42 of 46 shots for a .913 save percentage. His performance kept West Nipissing in the game despite being outshot by a wide margin. On the other end, Nathan Dery made 29 saves on 32 shots for Senneterre, earning third-star honors for his steady play.

Key Performances

• Jordan Paul (Senneterre): Recorded a hat trick, including the overtime game-winner and a penalty shot goal.
• Terry See (West Nipissing): Stopped 42 shots and weathered heavy offensive pressure to keep his team alive.
• Malick St-Pierre (Senneterre): Contributed a goal and an assist, playing a pivotal role in the Bécards’ victory.
• Zachary Major (West Nipissing): Had a goal and an assist, leading the Lynx’s offense.

Implications

The victory solidifies Senneterre’s standing as a formidable team in the North division, while West Nipissing, though unable to secure the win, showcased their tenacity and ability to compete against any opponent. The Lynx will need to focus on discipline after costly penalties impacted their momentum.

What’s Next

Both teams head into the winter break following this game, Le Becard will look to return on January 17^th with a matchup with the Quebec rival Pirates, while the Lynx will take the break to rest and recover and get back to their playoff push in January on the 4^th against those same Pirates with crucial head to head matchups between the two having critical playoff seeding implications.