WOMEN’S HOCKEY

UOIT Ridgebacks Media Release
Thursday, January 10, 2008

Ridgebacks Host Guelph for a Two-Game Weekend Series

Oshawa (OUA) – The UOIT Ridgebacks women’s hockey team welcomes the eighth nationally ranked Guelph Gryphons to the Campus Ice Centre for a two-game series this Saturday night and Sunday afternoon. The Ridgebacks enter the weekend with a 1-15-1-2 OUA mark  while the Gryphons sit in third place with a 12-5-0-0 record.
THIS WEEK
Sat. Jan. 12 vs. Guelph Gryphons – 7:30 pm
Sun. Jan. 13 vs. Guelph Gryphons – 1:30 pm

LAST WEEK
Sat. Jan. 5 @ Laurier L 0-11
Sun. Jan. 6 @ York L 3-4 (OT)

UOIT RIDGEBACKS
The UOIT Ridgebacks enter the weekend series with Guelph on a positive note as they picked up their fifth point of the year against the York Lions (7-8-3) on Sunday afternoon. After going down by two goals on two separate occasions, the Ridgebacks fought back to send the game into overtime tied at 3-3. Overtime was very entertaining with both teams having plenty of chances to put the game to rest and at the 3:05 mark of the extra period, the Lions scored the game winner, preventing the Ridgebacks from getting their second win of the year.

It is most likely the Ridgebacks head coach will have goaltenders Melissa Scott (Oshawa, ON) and Carleigh Taggart (Oshawa, ON) split the games over the weekend series. The duo have both appeared in 12 games this season and have combined for a goals against average of 4.82. Taggart got the last start against Guelph (Oct. 21), making 37 stops in the 3-2 loss. Rikki Palmateer (Cobourg, ON) had two assists in the game against Guelph, adding to her team leading total 12 points this season.

GUELPH GRYPHONS
Despite a record of seven games over .500 in OUA play, the Gryphons have been inconsistent as of late losing two of their last three games including a 5-2 loss to the University of Toronto Varsity Blues to open up the new year. Guelph is led by freshmen sensation Jennifer Rivers who leads the OUA in scoring with 12 goals this season.

Sarah Long has logged most of the minutes in net for the Gryphons, as she has appeared in 15 games and has posted a 2.17 goals against average. The Ridgebacks may get a look at backup goalie Chelsey Roy in one of the two games. Roy has earned three wins in four starts on the year.

HEAD-TO-HEAD
In the two games that UOIT and Guelph have met this year, the Gryphons have come out on top 3-2. There first game was a part of the Brock University Invitational held in September. In their only regular season meeting of the year, the teams entered the third period tied at one goal apiece, but Guelph scored a pair of goals in the final frame, one more than Ridgeback’s lone tally to capture the win. This weekend’s games will be the team’s final meetings during the OUA regular season.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS
Oshawa native Jackie McArthur has compiled 10 points this season and 30 penalty minutes. She is now points and minutes behind for the team lead in both categories as she is two points shy of Rikki Palmateer’s team leading 12 points and two minutes short of Morgan Mitchell’s (Peterborough, ON) 32 penalty minutes.

If the final of the game ends up being 3-2 in favour of Guelph, it will mark the third consecutive time this season that has been the final score between the two teams.

Guelph began the year with an 8-1 record.

MARKETING & PROMOTIONS
Former founding UOIT president Gary Polonsky will be honoured during Saturday’s game. Intramural students will receive $2.00 tickets for the game. It will also be Clarington Flames Minor Hockey night at the Campus Ice Centre.

Another qualifier will be selected during each game for the $1,000 Bursary Giveaway presented by Durham Dodge/Chrysler. Durham College and UOIT student qualifiers will be selected at every UOIT Ridgebacks and Durham Lords home game for the remainder of the 2007-08 season. During the final women’s hockey home game at the Campus Ice Centre (February 9, 2008), one lucky student will walk away with a $1,000 bursary.

Michelle Boudrais (KX96 Super Star Search 2007 winner) will be performing the National Anthem on Sunday. Fans will have the opportunity to win great prizes in the Source for Sports Shoot for Loot as well as the Whitby Wimpy’s Diner Fan of the Game contest.

BROADCAST
Fans can listen live to every Ridgeback home game online via the Riot Radio at www.theriotradio.com

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FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Scott Dennis
Sports Information and Marketing Coordinator
Durham College and UOIT Athletics
905.721.2000 Ext. 2784 (P)
905.721.3117 (F)
scott.dennis@dc-uoit.ca