FRANCE -- The McGill Redmen were defeated 9-3 by a Russian national B team to open the 20th annual Mont Blanc hockey tournament Monday.

Doug Orr of Newmarket, Ont., scored twice for McGill; including one on a penalty shot. The other Redmen marker was scored by junior defenceman Rhéal Guenette of Calgary.

McGill, which was playing for the first time in four weeks. were outshot by a whopping 55-19 margin as goalkeeper Mathieu Poitras made 46 saves in a losing cause. Poitras, a freshman from Gatineau, Que., earned player-of-the-game honours for McGill.

The game featured 103 minutes in penalties, including 61 to McGill, which played shorthanded for 23 minutes.

Lev Tifonov scored twice and added one assist for the Russians, who are coached by the legendary Alexander Yakushev.

In the other tourney game, the Finnish national B team defeated the French national A team 5-4.

McGill will play Finland tonight in Albertville, and France in Chamonix, Wednesday

Earl Zukerman
Communications Officer
McGill University Dept. of Athletics