Ravens blank the AHL Binghamton Senators 1-0
(OTTAWA, ON) — Few people outside the Carleton men’s hockey team’s dressing room thought it was possible entering Monday’s exhibition game against the AHL’s Binghamton Senators, but the Ravens engineered a historic upset, blanking the B-Sens 1-0. Brent Norris (Ottawa, ON) had the lone goal for Carleton, while netminder Patrick Killeen (Corkery, ON) shone throughout the night en route to a 29-save shutout.
(Photo: Kenny MacDonald)
(OTTAWA, ON) — Few people outside the Carleton men's hockey team's dressing room thought it was possible entering Monday's exhibition game against the AHL's Binghamton Senators, but the Ravens engineered a historic upset, blanking the B-Sens 1-0. Brent Norris (Ottawa, ON) had the lone goal for Carleton, while netminder Patrick Killeen (Corkery, ON) shone throughout the night en route to a 29-save shutout.
"Obviously there were some jitters, but we competed hard and Killer came up with some big saves," said sixth-year Ravens head coach Marty Johnston. "It's a big day for our program and hopefully we can build on it."
Carleton got off to a dream start just 4:51 into the game, as Norris popped a Jason Seed (Manotick, ON) rebound past B-Sens goaltender Chris Driedger blocker-side. The goal sent the capacity crowd at the Ice House into a frenzy, and knocked out any lingering pre-game jitters for the Ravens, who buckled down defensively to shut down the bigger, strong Senators.
Killeen came up with a number of key stops between the pipes for Carleton, including a crucial pad save on a Ryan Dzingel short-handed breakaway late in period two. Killeen's 29-save performance earned him first star honours on the night, and the senior goaltender's shutout came with multiple pro scouts in attendance.
"It was an awesome experience, I told the boys I haven't been much prouder of any team in front of me than tonight," said Killeen, who earned divisional Goaltender of the Year honours last season. "Watching guys like Gustavsen get knocked down five, six times, then get back up and hit somebody again, really pushed me to keep going and bear down — it's a great group of guys, with so much heart."
Monday's game turned into a surprisingly chippy affair, as the visitors from Binghamton — many of whom had been cut from Ottawa Senators main camp less than 36 hours before puck drop Monday — began to tighten up and grit their teeth. Towering B-Sens defenceman Guillaume Lepine, competing for a spot on this year's Binghamton roster, laid a number of crunching hits, while Ravens forward Brett Gustavsen (Scarborough, ON) was a thorn in the Senators' side all night long.
The victory pushed Carleton to 4-0 on the preseason, though head coach Marty Johnston was relatively reserved following the win.
"The guys deserve the day off tomorrow, but then we're going to get right back after it," said Johnston, whose team opens up the regular season on home ice October 10th against the rival McGill Redmen. "We can enjoy the moment, we're obviously thrilled, but then it's back to work preparing for the regular season and our home opener."
Source: Carleton Ravens
