UOIT Athletics Media Release
September 22

RIDGEBACKS MEN'S HOCKEY DAY A HUGE SUCCESS 

Bowmanville  - The first ever "Total Hockey Day in Bowmanville" turned out to be a huge success for both the fans and the players of the UOIT Ridgebacks men's hockey program. In conjuction with the Town of Clarington, the Ridgebacks hosted their first ever Ontario University Athletics (OUA) at the Garnet Rickard Complex/Total Hockey Museum in Bowmanville against the Gee-Gees from the University of Ottawa.

The festivities began with a  ceremonial puck drop, with UOIT President Dr. Ron Bordessa, Mayor of Clarington Mr. Jim Abernathy and UOIT Student Association President Fraser McArthur. The Ridgebacks of UOIT were then off and running, and it only took a matter of seconds for the Ridgebacks first ever goal to be scored, as Brett Connolly (Pickering) scored twenty-five seconds into the game. Chris Chiementi (Mississauga) had the dubious distinction of recording the first UOIT penalty (holding), which resulted in Ottawa tying the game up at one. Before the period was out, the Gee-Gees were able to go up 2-1 when Yanick Charron scored his second of the period.

The Ridgebacks and Gee-Gees traded goals in the second period, with Brett Connolly scoring his second of the game and first ever UOIT power-play goal.  Throughout the third period, the Gee-Gees played tight defensively and were able to hold off the Ridgeback onslaught for fifteen minutes. Then with less than five minutes to go, "The Grind Line" of Nathan Spaling (Drayton), Jordan Freeland (Belleville) and Justin Allen (Pickering) were able to create havoc along the boards, control the play with Allen slipping the puck back to defencemen Richard Power (Scarborough) who deeked the Ottawa winger and rifled the puck in the top corner to tie the game at three.

It was back and forth action for the final minutes of regulation and five minutes of overtime, including UOIT killing off a five-on-three man advantage during the final minutes of regulation.  Solid goaltending and missed opportunities resulted in the always exciting but controversial shootout, which took seven rounds but in the end Justin Allen was able to slide the puck behind the Gee-Gees goaltender for the 3-2 shootout victory and send the frantic Ridgeback fans home with the first ever UOIT OUA  4-3 preseason victory.

September 23 Summary
First Period
UOIT: Brett Connolly (Varty), 19:35 OU: Yanick Charron (Duncan, Thibaudeau) (PP), 17:42 OU: Yanick Charron (2) (Herard), 13:41

Second Period
UOIT: Brett Connolly (2) (Chris Chiementi) (PP), 15:20
OU: Dan McDonald (Nick Vernelli) 13:30

Third Period
UOIT: Richard Power (Allen), 4:25 Shootout UOIT: Connolly, Freeland, Allen OU: Charron, Duncan

Ridgebacks Conference Record: 0-0  Ridgebacks
Overall Record: 1-0

Next Action: September 29th @ York University Tournament (Toronto)
Next Home Action @ Campus Ice Centre: ***Inaugural OUA Men's Ridgebacks Regular Season Game***  October 12 vs. Queen's Golden Gaels @ 7:30pm

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Cory Lusted
Sports Information & Marketing Officer
Athletic Department @ Durham College/ UOIT
cory.lusted@dc-uoit.ca
(905) 721-3111 x. 2784