MEN’S HOCKEY

UOIT Ridgebacks Media Release
Friday, January 04, 2008

Ridgebacks Start 2008 with an Overtime Win in Ottawa

Ottawa (OUA) – The UOIT Ridgebacks men’s hockey team defeated the Carleton Ravens, 5-4, in overtime to win the battle of the two first year OUA Hockey programs. The win improves UOIT’s record to 3-11-3 for 9-points while Carleton’s record now stands at 7-9-2 for 16-points. It was a historic win for UOIT as it was their first victory away from the Campus Ice Centre in their inaugural OUA season.

The Ridgebacks jumped out to an early two-goal lead in the first period on goals by Derrick Bagshaw (Oshawa, ON) and a short handed tally by Chris Lowe (Smith Falls, ON). The Ravens out shot UOIT 10-7 in the frame but goaltender Matt Mateja (Mississauga, ON) stopped all ten shots he faced.

The second period was a different story as Carleton came to life tying the game in a six minute span on a goal by Adam Marriner (Perth, ON) and a short handed tally by Jared Cipparone (Tecumseh, ON). The Ravens would then go ahead for the first time in the game at the 12-minute mark on a power play as Marriner registered his second goal of the night. The lead was short lived as Charlottetown, PEI native Dustin Turner tied the game just one minute after the Raven’s go-ahead goal that sent both teams into the second intermission tied at three goals apiece.

In the third period, play was even as both teams had numerous chances to take the lead. The Ridgebacks managed to capitalize first as they went back on top with a Richard Power (Scarborough, ON) goal on the man advantage at the 7-minute mark of the game. The goal was just Power’s second of the season. Carleton stormed right back tied the game for a third time on a goal by Justin Caruana (Orono, ON).

The game went into overtime and lasted less than one minute as the Ridgeback’s Shane Nolan (Enfield, NS) beat Carleton’s goaltender Jordan Wakefield (Spruce Grove, AB) with a slap shot to end the game at the :55 second mark of the extra frame. This is another milestone for Nolan as he also scored the Ridgebacks historical first goal on October 12, 2007 against Queen’s University. Nolan is also leading the team in goals (7) and points (12) this season.

Mateja made 30 saves for his third victory on the year as well as assisting on the overtime game-winning goal. His counterpart, Wakefield, recorded 21 saves in a losing cause for Carleton.

The Ridgebacks win came on the eve weekend before Carleton University announces their new president and the Ravens home opener to start the 2008 portion of the OUA season. 

UOIT will now head to Quebec for an afternoon tilt against the 2006-07 defending OUA Champion Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières. Puck drop is 2:00 pm.