Gaels Kick Off Second Half of Season with Thrilling 4–3 Win

Queen's Men's Hockey returned to home ice to open the second half of the season, taking on the Ottawa Gee-Gees in a high-stakes Friday night showdown.

The Gaels struck first in a physical opening frame, getting on the board early with a point shot from fourth-year Lucas Peric (Economics) that beat the Ottawa netminder to give Queen's a 1–0 lead. Liam Tanner (Kinesiology) and Ethan Peters (Applied Science) earned assists on the opening goal, setting the tone for a period defined by hard hits and battles along the boards. Ottawa responded late in the frame, capitalizing with under ten minutes remaining to even the score heading into the first intermission.

Queen's came out aggressive in the second, reclaiming the lead midway through the period when Peric struck again, snapping home his second goal of the night from the slot at 10:53. Ottawa answered minutes later to tie it once more, but the Gaels regained control during a four-on-four sequence. Liam Tanner (Kinesiology) showcased slick hands and patience, finishing a highlight-reel play to put Queen's back on top, with Derek Hamilton (Arts & Sciences) credited with the assist. Queen's carried a 3–2 lead into the second intermission.

The Gaels maintained their momentum in the third, striking immediately off the opening faceoff. Jack Duff (Biology) drove hard into the Ottawa zone and delivered a precise feed to Ethan Larmand (Arts & Sciences), who scored in his season debut to extend the lead. Ottawa pulled one back to make it 4–3, but Queen's stayed disciplined, winning key battles, clearing pucks effectively, and shutting down Ottawa's late opportunities. The Gaels held on for a hard-fought 4–3 victory to cap off the game.

Reflecting on his second goal of the night, Lucas Peric (Economics) said, "I was just trying to get the puck through to the net and we had traffic in front, and we have been doing a good job of that lately, so it was definitely nice to get on the board." His two-goal performance helped set the tone for a strong start to the second half of the season and highlighted the Gaels' composure in crucial moments.

To mention, goaltender Tanner Wickware (Graduate Studies) made 40 saves in his sixth game of the season, standing tall in net and keeping the Gaels competitive throughout the night.

Queen's Men's Hockey will return to the ice next Friday, January 16, in Montreal to face the McGill Redbirds at 7:00 p.m. Live coverage will be available on OUA.TV.