WATERLOO -- Sophomore Christophe Lalonde of Mirabel, Que., registered his first career hat-trick as No.8-ranked McGill cruised to a 7-1 road victory over Waterloo in OUA men's hockey at the Columbia Ice Field, Saturday.

The Redmen exploded for four goals on just nine shots in the opening period, led 5-1 after two and added a pair of markers in the final stanza. Despite the lopsided score, the shot clock had McGill on the short end of a 26-22 tally.

"We were opportunistic today and played a pretty solid 60 minutes, unlike yesterday when we controlled major parts of (a 4-3 loss at Laurier) but took the second period off and ended up losing in overtime," said McGill head coach Kelly Nobes. "But the reality is that we're still growing as a team, we're learning how to win and we're getting better as the season progresses and that's what's important."

Lalonde, a 5-foot-9, 188-pound centre, scored back-to-back goals eight minutes apart to put the Redmen ahead 3-0, sandwiched by a pair from sophomore Samuel Hodhod. Lalonde then completed the hat-trick at 19:48 of the final stanza, The 22-year-old sniper now has nine goals in 11 league games, which ties him for second among OUA league leaders -- two behind Concordia's Anthony De Luca -- and ranks third in the nation.

"Waterloo has a small rink so when you get the puck in the offensive zone, every shot is a good shot," said Nobes of Lalonde, who only had five goals in 10 games during his freshman year after joining the team at Christmas following a three-game tryout in the East Coast Hockey League with Norfolk.. "Chris got in some good areas and buried his chances."

"We needed a good start tonight and the guys played one of the best first periods this year; it was a very good team win," said the well-travelled Lalonde who played five seasons in the QMJHL with Lewiston, Moncton and Shawinigan, in addition to an American Hockey League tryout in Adirondack. "I just try and get my feet moving and shoot the puck as much as I can. I know my role and that is always reassuring when you know what's expected from you.  I'm playing with good players and I know that if I get open, the puck will come to me."

Rounding out the scoring for McGill were forwards Daniel Milne, his eighth, and Simon Tardif-Richard.

With McGill ahead 5-0, Waterloo's Michael Siddall spoiled the shutout bid by Jacob Gervais-Chouinard at 13:18 of  the second period. The Redmen goalie saved 25 of 26 shots and improved his record to 3-1. Mike Morrison started between the pipes for the Warriors and took the loss, conceding four goals on nine shots before being replaced after the opening period by Chris Hurry who was beaten three times on 13 shots.

The game featured 17 penalties for 53 minutes, including 31 PIMs to Waterloo, which resulted in a field-day for the Redmen special teams. They went 3-for-6 on the power-play and erased all three shorthanded scenarios. With McGill ahead 6-1 and about five minutes remaining in the game, Waterloo defenceman Nik Knezic was assessed a slashing major for going after Jerome Verrier and automatic game misconduct, which comes with a league-imposed suspension to be determined.

McGill, which improved to 8-2-1, finally passed Concordia (8-3-0) in the standings and now sits third in the OUA East, three points behind division-leading UOIT (10-2-0) and two behind Queen's (9-2-1), The Redmen will host York (7-4-1) and Brock (7-4-0) from the OUA West, Nov. 18-19. Both games are slated for 7 p.m. starts.

REDMEN RAP: McGill improved their all-time record against Waterloo to 14-17-3 since the series was inaugurated in 1964, including a 6-9-1 dossier on the road... The game was delayed about 10 minutes in the first period when a Waterloo player suffered a cut and the arena staff was called out to clean blood off the ice... Sam Hodhod suffered an undisclosed injury late in the second period and did not return.

LINK TO COMPLETE BOXSCORE

SCORING SUMMARY
McGill 7 at Waterloo 1
(Saturday, November 12, 2016 - Columbia Ice Field)

GOALS BY PERIOD:
McGill 4 1 2 - 7
Waterloo 0 1 0 - 1

1st Period-
1, McGill, Samuel Hodhod 2 (Halbert, Gamelin), 1:37.
2, McGill, Christophe Lalonde 7 (Gauthier, Bois), 6:56 (PP).
3, McGill, Christophe Lalonde 8 (Gauthier, Verrier), 14:49.
4, McGill, Samuel Hodhod 3 (Tardif-Richard, Talbot-Tassi), 15:13.

Penalties-Coulter Wat (high sticking), 5:30; Verrier Mcg (cross checking), 11:20.

2nd Period-
5, McGill, Daniel Milne 8 (Delisle-Houde, Pompei), 9:31.
6, Waterloo, Michael Siddall 3 (Tsicos, Halagian), 13:18.

Penalties-Hodhod Mcg (roughing), 9:31; Perigo Wat (roughing), 9:31; Chiarlitti Mcg (cross checking), 19:55; Champigny Wat (slashing), 19:55.

3rd Period-
7, McGill, Simon Tardif-Richard 2 (Chiarlitti, Gamelin), 9:24 (PP).
8, McGill, Christophe Lalonde 9 (Gauthier, Bois), 19:48 (PP).

Penalties-Kaminsky Mcg (cross checking), 2:04; Lambert-Lemay Mcg (checking to the head, 10-minute misconduct), 3:48; Halagian Wat (slashing), 4:46; Waterloo Bench served by Sonnenburg (too many men), 6:31; Halbert Mcg (roughing), 8:20; Perigo Wat (holding, roughing), 8:20; Knezic Wat (major-slashing, game misconduct), 14:37; Hanes Wat (high sticking), 18:50.

Shots on Goal-
McGill 9-6-7 -- 22.
Waterloo 15-4-7 -- 26.

Power Play Opportunities-
McGill 3 / 6;
Waterloo 0 / 3.

Goalies-
McGill,
Jacob Gervais-Chouinard (W, 3-1-0, 26 shots-25 saves; 60:00).

Waterloo,
Mike Morrison (Start, L; 3-6-0, 9 shots-5 saves, 20:00);
Chris Hurry (13 shots-10 saves, 40:00).

Attendance: 295
Start: 4:02 PM
End: 6:24 PM
Length: 2:22

Referees-Ryan Wilson, Jamie Lang.
Linesmen-Chad Hepburn, Brendan Higgins.

THREE STARS
1. MCG - 12 Christophe Lalonde
2. MCG - 10 Guillaume Gauthier
3. MCG - 26 Samuel Hodhod