On Friday night, the RMC Paladins scored a victory in the first game of the 2019-20 OUA regular season by defeating the UQTR Patriotes 3-2 at Constantine Arena in Kingston.
Seamus Maguire from Victoria, B.C. – one of only three seniors on the RMC lineup – quickly had his team in the lead when he scored their first goal within just 28 seconds into the game.
Head coach Richard Lim said he knows the program’s in good shape with leaders like Maguire, Mathew Michie (Port Coquitlam, B.C.), and Matthew Muller (Kingston, Ont.) to set an example.
“It makes my life a lot easier, knowing that those guys are doing the right things day-in and day-out, on the ice, off the ice, and across the street at the College,” said Lim.
Midway through the first period, Rhett Willcox (Surrey, B.C.) doubled the Paladins lead on the power play with a redirection in the slot.
After UQTR got one back heading into the intermission, rookie Noah Rowe (Nepean, Ont.) scored his first OUA marker, and the eventual game-winner, as the lone goal in the second period. With some excitement surrounding the Paladins recruitment class, Lim was impressed with his first years across the board.
“This is the most skilled team we’ve had in recent memory,” Lim said. “Our young guys are contributing right away, and we’re going to have to lean on them.”
RMC rookies Christopher Paquette (Kingston, Ont.), Christian Tsukamoto (Ajax, Ont.) and Cole Noble (Cochrane, Alta.) also recorded their first OUA points in the game by earning an assist each with Riley Brandt (Trail, B.C.), Cameron Lamport (Newmarket, Ont.), and Willcox each making the remaining assists. Lamport now has a regular season point-streak of 11 games since January.
Paladins goaltender Bradley van Schubert (Barrie, Ont.) made 37 saves during the game, allowing only two goals from UQTR’s Maxime Chagnon and Simon Lafrance.
RMC will play two games against Nipissing in North Bay next weekend, and return to Constantine Arena in Kingston on October 18 and 19 for consecutive games against Ontario Tech.
Photo (submitted): Peter Reimer
