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UOIT Ridgebacks Media Release
Friday, January 11, 2008

Ridgebacks Roll to a 4-2 Win Over Concordia

Oshawa (OUA) – Fans at the Campus Ice Centre knew they were in for an excellent game right from the opening puck drop as both the UOIT Ridgebacks and Concordia Stingers hit the ice flying, playing with a lot of emotion and intensity the entire night. At the sound of the final buzzer, Ridgebacks fans went home happy as the home team went on to win by a final score of 4-2.

The Ridgebacks improve to 4-12-3 in OUA play this season and have won two of their last three games. Concordia drops to 9-8-1 on the year and are in the midst of a four game losing streak.

The Ridgebacks opened the scoring halfway through the first period as Dustin Turner (Charlottetown, PEI) streaked down the left wing and snapped a bullet behind Concordia’s netminder Sheldon Baerg for his sixth goal of the year. Three minutes later, the Stingers had thought they tied it up as they slipped one past starting goalie Matt Mateja (Mississauga, ON), but the net was dislodged prior to crossing the line and the play was blown dead. The Ridgebacks managed to outshoot the Stingers 11-6 in the first and headed into the locker room with a one goal advantage.

Early in the second period, Concordia tied the game up at 1-1 as Alex Sciangula scored on a wrap-around and slid it in at the side of the net. The game did not stay tied for long as Chris Lowe (Smith Falls, ON) scored on an odd man rush to put the Ridgebacks ahead 2-1. Holding on to the puck as long as he could, Lowe pulled the goalie out of position and roofed it in the top corner.

Holding just a one goal advantage going into the third, Marlin Muylaert’s squad received a fortunate bounce as Jordan Freeland (Belleville, ON) threw an innocent looking puck on net which happened to beat Baerg threw the five-hole. Minutes later, Brett Connolly (Pickering, ON) picked up his fourth goal of the year as he blew a slap shot past the Stingers goalie. Freeland’s and Connolly’s goals were scored on consecutive shots on goal.

The Stingers put one more goal on the board on a tip in front of the net, but it just wasn’t enough as the Ridgebacks went on to pick up their fourth win of the year. UOIT played a strong defensive game holding the Stingers scoring leader Trevor Blanchard off the scoresheet. Blanchard is currently fourth in league scoring with 30 points in 19 games.

Freeland and Oshawa native Derrick Bagshaw picked up two points apiece in the game while Mateja made 37 stops in the win.

The Ridgebacks will turnaround and play the McGill Redmen on Saturday afternoon (1:30 PM) at the Campus Ice Centre. UOIT founding president Gary Polonsky will be honoured during the pre-game ceremony at Saturday’s game.

Tonight also marked the first night of the $1,000 Bursary Contest Giveaway presented by Durham Dodge Chrysler Jeep. Every game, one lucky fan will qualify for a $1,000 bursary to be awarded at the 2007-08 regular season finale at the Campus Ice Centre on Saturday, February 9, 2008 (Women’s Game).

GAME SUMMARY

Concordia 2 at UOIT 4 (Final)

1st Period
1. UOIT, D. Turner (6) (B. Varty, R. Power) 9:40  
 
2nd Period
2. Concordia, N. Sciangula (2) (N. Lafontaine) 4:11  
3. UOIT, C. Lowe (5) (J. Freeland, D. Bagshaw) 9:08  

3rd Period
4. UOIT, J. Freeland (7) (D. Bagshaw) 5:06  
5. UOIT, B. Connolly (4)   9:37  
6. Concordia, R. Smith (1) (N. Sciangula) 12:37  

CON Shots: 6-13-20 (39)
UOIT Shots: 11-10-8 (29)

Power Play Conversion
Concordia 0-2
UOIT 0-2.

Goaltenders
Concordia: Baerg - 60:00 min, SV: 25 GA: 4
UOIT: 60:00 min, SV: 37, GA: 2

RIDGEBACKS AT A GLANCE
Ridgebacks Conference Record: 4-12-3
Ridgebacks Overall Record: 6-16-3

NEXT HOME GAME

Saturday, January 12, 2008 (1:30 PM)
vs. McGill Redmen
Campus Ice Centre
Oshawa, ON
*Gary Polonsky Day

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FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Scott Dennis
Sports Information and Marketing Coordinator
Durham College & UOIT Athletics
905.721.2000 Ext. 2784
scott.dennis@dc-uoit.ca