Mitch Leger
men’s basketball
Despite mixed results for the men’s basketball team last weekend, one player enjoyed enormous individual success. Second-year forward Mitch Leger scored 20 points in a 70-60 loss to the University of Toronto Varsity Blues on Friday night before tallying 30 points against Ryerson University on Saturday to propel the Gaels to a 79-74 victory.
Head coach Rob Smart said Leger was in good form against the two Toronto teams.
“He played well all weekend. He was shooting very well.”
In addition to his scoring, Leger helped his team by grabbing 20 rebounds during the two home games.
Leger, a 6’6” forward from Kingston, capped his stellar weekend by sinking a three-point shot with 14.9 seconds remaining to secure the win against Ryerson.
“There was only about five seconds left on the shot clock and I knew I had to get rid of it fast,” he said. “I hoped for the best.”
Leger is nearly averaging a double-double this season, with 19 points-per-game and 9.2 rebounds-per-game.
In spite of his personal performance, Leger said he was disappointed to drop the team’s opening game of 2008. Queen’s led U of T in the third quarter before giving up the lead.
“Obviously we were disappointed on Friday night losing to Toronto. … We still have a lot of work to do,” he said.
Leger said he feels he’s still improving.
“I can’t ever really say I’m 100 per cent satisfied with the way I play.”
—Greg Weston
Katie Boyd
women’s hockey
The women’s hockey team moved up the standings after a pair of 3-2 victories in Toronto last weekend, largely because of the exceptional goaltending of Katie Boyd.
The second-year netminder was named the OUA’s female athlete of the week following the Gaels’ road wins over York University and the University of Toronto.
Boyd made 24 saves in a solid start against York but stole the show against U of T, the sixth-ranked team in Canada. The Richmond Hill native made 33 saves in the win, moving Queen’s into fourth place in the OUA standings. The Gaels were outshot 12-2 in the third period, but Boyd shut the door to preserve the one-goal lead.
Queen’s head coach Rob Lalonde said Boyd was crucial in both wins.
“Katie was very good in the York game and she was brilliant in the Toronto game. We were shorthanded quite a bit in the Toronto game and it could have been much worse had Katie not played the way she did. Katie stole the game for us,” he said. “In my opinion, she’s one of the best goaltenders in the league.”
Lalonde said Boyd’s performance is important for the morale of the team.
“Good goaltending is key. That’s what wins championships.”
Boyd said last weekend was its best so far of the regular season.
“We were playing a lot more consistent and everyone was working hard and just pulling together.”
—Greg Weston
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