Condors defeat cross-bridge division rivals

Richard Tardif - The Kahnawake Condors controlled the game from the drop of the puck against the Lachine Maroons, scoring first and scoring last, sending the Lachine Maroons home with a 5-1 loss. 

For the Condors, it breaks up a mid-season slump in typical Condor-style hockey.  Hits came fast and furious with Jean-François Dilorio laying out two Maroon players in the first period, and Gabriel Cromp and David Rail were offering free face-massages along the boards all evening. 

“It is good to win ad win against a good team,” said Condor general manager and head coach Patrice Bosch.  “I thought we all played a good game. We were physical and that paid off.”

Dilorio got the Condors going at 8:46 of the first period when Charles Marotte fooled the Maroon defense, speeding in from the left side and feeding Dilorio in front.  Forward Jonathan Castonguay jumped on a Maroon turnover and was left alone in front of the Maroon defender, and scored what turned out to be the winning goal.  For Castonguay, that was his 14th goal of the season and his sixth goal in the last eight games. 

Scoring his first goal playing in his first game as a Condor was defenseman Mathieu-André Desterre, and then Cromp from the blue line had his shot deflect in off a Maroon defenseman.  The Maroons broke Maxime Belanger’s shutout bid in the third, but Daniel Escavarage ended any hope of a Maroon comeback at 14:45 of the third.  

“I reminded the players that we had won against this team but we also lost the last two,” said Bosch.  “I thought our team showed everyone what we are made of.”

Condor defenseman Vance Thompson, after sitting out for 25-games with a post-season concussion returned to his post on the blue line.  

“My legs were good and I felt good about playing.  We said we would need to play a full game and not let up, and we kept to that game plan.” “This was a good win for us,” he said. 

The Eastern Door player of the game was awarded to Jean-François Dilorio. Dilorio was a presence on the ice on every shift, scoring once and creating three Maroon turnovers on the back check.  Honourable mention is Condor’s goaltender Maxime Belanger, who faced some quality Maroon shots, particularly in the third period from close range. 

The Condors move to a record if 12-14 at the halfway point of the 2011-2012 season. The Condors also have two players in the top ten in league scoring. Patrick Lapostolle with 26 goals and 18 assists is in 7th place, followed by Jonathan Castonguay in 8th spot, with 14 goals and 29 assists.  

The Sherbrooke Cougars play host to our Condors this evening. Game time is 7:30 p.m. in Sherbrooke.