MEN’S HOCKEY

UOIT Ridgebacks Media Release
Thursday, January 17, 2008

Gryphons spoil Marlin Muylaert’s Return to Guelph with a 3-1 Win – Rematch Tomorrow Night at the Campus Ice Centre

Oshawa (OUA) – Despite being accustomed to winning in Guelph over his eleven year career as head coach with the Gryphons, Marlin Muylaert and his new team, the UOIT Ridgebacks, fell short in his return as they dropped a tight 3-1 decision to the Gryphons on Thursday night.

With the win, Guelph jumped to 9-12-1 on the year and sit in third place in the OUA Mid-West Division. UOIT fell to 4-14-3 in their inaugural OUA season and trail the Gryphons by eight points. The Ridgebacks will get a chance at redemption tomorrow night as the teams take to the ice for the second half of a home and home series. Puck drop at the Campus Ice Centre in Oshawa is 7:30 pm.

As it was their first meeting of the year, UOIT and Guelph were unfamiliar with one-another and skated to a scoreless draw after the first twenty minutes. Despite being tied after one, Guelph held the majority of the chances as they out shot the Ridgebacks 11-1. The teams struggled on the power play in the period as they were both 0-for-3 with the man advantage.

Scoring broke wide open to open the second as three goals were tallied in the first six minutes of the period. Jeff Oginski of Guelph got things rolling with his first goal of the season at the 2:52 minute mark on the power play. UOIT rebounded less than two minutes later as Jonathan Koch-Butterworth (Uxbridge, ON) found the back of the net, marking his first goal of the year. TJ Legge (Chapleau, ON) picked up an assist on the play.

The 1-1 tie did not last for long as Guelph starting defenseman, Barrett Brook, got the better of Matt Mateja (Mississauga, ON) for his fifth goal of the year, restoring the Gryphons one goal lead. Both goaltenders managed to settle down from this point forward as the teams failed to the light the lamp for the remainder of the period. UOIT played much better in the second period as they out shot the Gryphons 10-7, despite being down by a goal on the scoreboard.

With UOIT pressing for the tying goal in the third period, Guelph goaltender Andrew Arklie managed to shut the door on the Ridgebacks as he made eleven third period stops to preserve the win. Derek Knowles found the empty net with just :25 seconds remaining in the game, locking up the Gryphons 3-1 win.  

UOIT’s woes on the power play continued as they went 0-for-8 on the night, while Guelph managed to go just 1-for-8. The Ridgebacks are just 2-for-29 with the man advantage in five games in 2008, a stat line that must improve if they hope to register a few more wins this season. Arklie made 18 stops for Guelph in the win while Mateja made 31 saves in a losing effort.

The Ridgebacks have seven games remaining in their inaugural OUA season, five of which are on home ice at the Campus Ice Centre. UOIT will become very familiar with their Mid-West Region opponents with six of their seven remaining games against divisional foes.

GAME SUMMARY

UOIT 1 at Guelph 3

1st Period
No Scoring
 
2nd Period
1. Guelph, J. Oginski (1) (B. Brook, A. Magera) 2:52 PP
2. UOIT, J. Koch-Butterworth (1) (T. Legge) 4:16  
3. Guelph, B. Brook (5) (M. Willoughby, D. Knowles) 5:26  
 
3rd Period
4. Guelph, D. Knowles (9) (K. Belan, M. Nelson) 19:35 EN
 
UOIT Shots: 1-7-11 (19)
Guelph Shots: 11-10-13 (34)

Power Play Conversion
UOIT 0-8
Guelph 1-8

Goaltenders
UOIT
Mateja - 60:00 min, SV: 31, GA: 2 [L]

Guelph
Arklie - 60:00 min, SV: 18, GA: 1 [W]

RIDGEBACKS AT A GLANCE
Ridgebacks Conference Record: 4-14-3
Ridgebacks Overall Record: 6-18-3

NEXT HOME GAME

Friday, January 18, 2008 (7:30 PM)
vs. Guelph Gryphons
Campus Ice Centre
Oshawa, ON

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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