February 4, 2015

Paladins and Gaels continue 129-year-old tradition Thursday in Carr-Harris Challenge Cup

The world’s oldest hockey rivalry on record will be renewed Thursday, Feb. 5 at 7:30 p.m. in Kingston, Ont. when the Queen’s Gaels and RMC Paladins meet for the Carr-Harris Challenge Cup.

RMC

Queen's

Final

RMC

Queen's

The world's oldest hockey rivalry on record will be renewed Thursday, Feb. 5 at 7:30 p.m. in Kingston, Ont. when the Queen's Gaels and RMC Paladins meet for the Carr-Harris Challenge Cup.

The rivalry between the two schools dates back to their first meeting in 1886, but the Cup was not officially initiated by the Original Hockey Hall of Fame until 100 years later in 1986. Since its official initiation, the Gaels have posted 17-9-2 record, including winning six of the last seven games.

Last year, though, RMC pulled off a 2-1 upset thanks to goaltender Evan Deviller stopping 52 of 53 shots in arguably the best performance of his OUA career. It was the Paladins first Cup win since 2007, and first in regulation since the 2005 game.

Thursday night is the teams' second regular season meeting this year, after Queen's scored six first-period goals in a 14-4 rout of RMC on Nov. 8. Fifteen different Gaels recorded a point in that game, including a hat-trick by forward Blair Wentworth.

Despite the lopsided loss earlier in the season, RMC proved it's capable of giving any team a scare with a near upset of the No. 6-ranked McGill Redmen. In that game, Deviller turned in another 50+ save performance, stopping 53 of 57 shots, but McGill scored a powerplay goal in the third period to eke out a 4-3 win.

Scoring won't be easy for the Paladins either. Queen's goalie Kevin Bailie ranks third in the conference with a .922 save percentage, and third with 21 games started.

RMC will also have to find a way to deal with the Gaels "big three" of Darcy Greenaway, Patrick McGillis, and Spencer Abraham. Greenaway and Abraham each have 25 points in 23 games, while McGillis has 23 in 22 games played. The trio combined for four goals and nine assists against RMC earlier in the season.

Leading the Paladins in scoring is Eric Louis-Seize; he is averaging a point per game, with 10 goals and 13 assists in 23 contests. Kyle Phillips also brings some scoring touch to the Paladins offence, and though he has appeared in just 17 games, he still ranks second on the team with 16 points, including scoring two goals in the loss to Queen's.

For the fourth year in a row the game will be played at the Rogers K-Rock Centre in downtown Kingston, home of the Kingston Frontenacs of the Ontario Hockey League.

The game is named in honour of the Carr-Harris family, which has a long-standing connection with both Kingston universities, and the top player from each team is awarded the Mary Carr-Harris Most Valuable Player Award, named in memory of Mary Carr-Harris, the matriarch of the family who passed away in 2006.

Tickets are $10 and are available at the customer service desk in the ARC at Queen's until the end of the day on Wednesday. Tickets are also available at the Rogers K-Rock Box office.

Be sure to catch the game in person or live on OUA.tv on Thursday, Feb. 5 at 7:30 p.m!