MEN’S HOCKEY

UOIT Ridgebacks Media Release
Thursday, January 17, 2008

Head Coach Marlin Muylaert Makes His Return to Guelph in a Home and Home Series

Oshawa (OUA) – Tonight in Guelph will be a homecoming for Marlin Muylaert, head coach of the UOIT Ridgebacks men’s hockey team. Muylaert coached at the University of Guelph from 1988 to 1999, and was recently inducted into the Gryphon Hall of Fame along with his 1996-97 national championship team.

Following their game in Guelph on Thursday, the two teams will head to Oshawa for the second half of a divisional home-and-home series as the Ridgebacks will host the Gryphons on Friday night. Face off at the Campus Ice Centre is scheduled for 7:30 pm.

THIS WEEK
Thu. Jan. 17 @ Guelph Gryphons – 7:30 pm
Fri. Jan. 18 vs. Guelph Gryphons – 7:30 pm

LAST WEEK
Fri. Jan. 11 vs. Concordia Stingers W 4-2
Sat. Jan. 12 vs. McGill Redmen L 1-6

MARLIN MUYLAERT
Prior to joining the Ridgebacks, Marlin Muylaert coached the University of Guelph Gryphons for 11 years, from 1988-1999. His team’s went on to win eight OUA Division Titles and two OUA Championships and were constantly ranked nationally in the top 10 rankings.

In 1996-97, the Gryphon men’s hockey team captured the CIAU championship title, defeating the University of New Brunswick 4-3 at Maple Leaf Gardens in front of a crowd of 5,733 fans. The Gryphons went through the regular season setting a record with 21 victories and only four losses in league play. En route to the national title, the Gryphons captured the Queens Cup defeating York 3-0. His goaltender, Matt Mullin, was also awarded the Senator Joseph A. Sullivan Trophy for Outstanding Player in the CIAU.

UOIT RIDGEBACKS
As the TSX falls at a rapid pace, the UOIT Ridgeback’s stock continues to rise. The blue and white picked up another win this past weekend, defeating the Concordia Stingers by a score of 4-2. They are 3-3-1 over their last seven games and hold a 2-2 record in 2008. With 11 points on the season, UOIT trails Guelph by just six points in the OUA Mid-West Division.

In their win over Concordia, Derrick Bagshaw (Oshawa, ON) and Jordan Freeland (Belleville, ON) both picked up two points on the night while Matt Mateja (Mississauga, ON) made 37 stops in the win. Bagshaw and Freeland have moved up the leader board in team scoring as they have recorded 11 and 10 points respectively this season. Shane Nolan (Enfield, NS) and Brett Connolly (Pickering, ON) lead the team with 12 points apiece.
 
GUELPH GRPYHONS
The Gryphons are coming off a three game home series against OUA Far-East opponents. Guelph opened up the home stand against the Carleton Ravens and were defeated 3-2. The Gryphons then faced the defending OUA Champion UQTR Patriotes and lost by a score of 4-1. Guelph finished the triple-header weekend on a positive note after beating the Ottawa GeeGee’s 5-4 in overtime.

HEAD-TO-HEAD
The two-game series will mark the first time the pair of mid-west teams will meet in OUA history. UOIT is 0-1-1 against mid-west opponents while Guelph is 3-1-0. The two teams will also meet on Saturday, February 9 at the University of Guelph for their OUA regular season finale.

MARKETING & PROMOTIONS
The $1,000 Bursary Giveaway presented by Durham Dodge Chrysler Jeep will continue. 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 men’s hockey home game at the Campus Ice Centre (February 8, 2008), one lucky student will walk away with a $1,000 bursary.

The Jenish Sisters, Colleen and Alanna, will be performing the national anthem. The sisters are also Maritime Step Dancing Champions and will be entertaining fans during the first intermission.
 
BROADCAST
Fans can listen live to every Ridgeback home game online via the Riot Radio at www.theriotradio.com

- 30 -

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