TMU advances at University Cup; UNB upset

Tim Austen/U Sports

It was a wild – and long – opening day at the University Cup in Ottawa.

The TMU Bold needed five overtimes to defeat the Mount Royal Cougars 5-4 in the first quarterfinal game of the national championship tournament. TMU's Spencer Sugrue's goal at 3:33 of the fifth overtime period was the winner.

According to U Sports, "at 83:33 of overtime, it was the 11th longest game in North American hockey history and the fourth longest men’s university hockey game of all-time."

Former Saint John Sea Dogs forward Kevin Gursoy scored and had five shots in the victory while ex-Dogs defenseman Joseph Ianniello had two helpers and five shots.

TMU advances to Saturday afternoon's semifinal where they'll play the host Ottawa GeeGees. The GeeGees upset the top-seeded UNB Reds 3-2 in overtime on Thursday night in a game that started a couple hours late due to the five overtime marathon played before it.

UNB, the two-time reigning national champions who had lost just two games all season, outshot Ottawa 43-22 but blew 1-0 and 2-1 leads. Former Sea Dogs forward Peter Reynolds had an assist in the game.

Along with Reynolds, the Reds featured former Sea Dogs Drew Elliott, Kale McCallum and Nick Blagden.

The two remaining quarterfinal games will take place Friday. #6 Moncton will face #3 Concordia at 2 p.m. Atlantic while #7 Queen's will take on #2 Saskatchewan at 8 p.m.

The Sea Dogs will be well represented in the Moncton/Concordia game. The Stingers have five former Sea Dogs – Nikolas Hurtubise, Nicholas Girouard, Christopher Inniss, Charles Savoie and Isiah Campbell – while UdeM's roster includes Jeremie Jacob.

A few other news and notes...

• The QMJHL website looks at all the playoff possibilities as we enter the final two games of the regular season.
• In the Maritime Hockey League, the Summerside Western Capitals – who finished second overall in the regular season standings – trail the Pictou County Weeks Crushers 3-1 in their first round playoff series following a 6-5 overtime loss on Thursday. Game 5 is Saturday in Summerside. 
• The Edmundston Blizzard took a 2-1 series lead over the Miramichi Timberwolves with a 7-3 win on Thursday. 
• In the Hockey East semifinals on Thursday, Maine needed double overtime to defeat Northeastern 4-3. Lynden Breen had an assist in the game. The Black Bears will play in the conference championship game for the first time since 2012. Maine will face the UConn Huskies in Friday night's final after they easily defeated Boston University 5-2 earlier on Thursday.