UOIT Ridgebacks Media Release
Saturday, January 17, 2009

Ridgebacks hang tough with the top ranked Patriotes

Men’s Hockey: UQTR defeated UOIT 4-2

Oshawa, Ont. – Up against the number two nationally ranked UQTR Patriotes, the UOIT Ridgebacks men’s hockey team knew they had a tough task ahead of them heading into their game on Saturday. UOIT would come up with a good effort, but fell just short of the major upset as the Patriotes escaped with a 4-2 win to improve to 18-1-1 on the year.

UOIT opened up scoring early in the game as Shane Nolan (Enfield, N.S.) netted his fifth goal of the year just two minutes after the opening puck drop. UQTR would answer back with three answered in the first and second period, to take the lead in the game. The Ridgebacks would find themselves in penalty trouble with Josh Vatri (Barrie, Ont.) and Steve Spade (Rochester, N.Y) being ejected from the game, leaving the team without two of their top impact players.

Trailing 3-1 in the third period, Derrick Bagshaw (Oshawa, Ont.) netted his seventh goal of the year to pull the Ridgebacks within one goal of the top ranked Patriotes. UOIT looked to tie the game in the late stages of the period but would fall short of the comeback as UQTR pulled out the win as they added an empty net marker with less than a minute left on the clock.

With his goal in the game, Bagshaw extended his scoring streak to five games to open up 2009. On the season, Bagshaw has seven goals and five assists in just eleven games.

Final shots in the contest were 32-23 in favour of UQTR. Jeff Dawson (Bracebridge, Ont.) made 28 saves in his fourth consecutive start for UOIT. The Ridgebacks were 0-for-4 on the power play while UQTR was 1-for-5.

UOIT did a good job holding the OUA’s top leading scorers in check as Alexandre Demers was held pointless while Jonathan Boutin had one assist and an empty net goal.

With the loss, UOIT falls to 4-14-2 on the year heading into a home-and-home series against the University of Guelph Gryphons (8-11-2). The divisional rivals will meet on Thursday, January 22 in Guelph before heading home on Friday, January 23 for Oshawa Minor Hockey night. Puck drop at the Campus Ice Centre is at 7:30 p.m.

GAME RECAP

UQTR 4 at UOIT 2

1st Period
1. UOIT, S. Nolan (5) (J. Fransky, K. Wetering) 2:21  
2. UQTR, N. Desilets (2) (M. Gravel, A. Joanisse) 18:43 PP
 
2nd Period
3. UQTR, S. Beland (3) (S. Bellefleur, A. Joanisse) 2:07  
4. UQTR, M. Gravel (6) (M. Simoneau, J. Boutin) 3:30  
 
3rd Period
5. UOIT, D. Bagshaw (7) (N. Spaling, T. Rizzi) 15:28  
6. UQTR, J. Boutin (18) (J. Blanchard) 19:18 EN

UQTR Shots: 9 15 8 TOTAL: 32
UOIT Shots: 11 5 7 TOTAL: 23

Power Play Conversion
UQTR 1-5
UOIT 0-4

Goaltenders
UQTR
Blanchard 12-1-1-0 Start: 1st 0:00 Min: 60:00 SV: 21 GA: 2 [W]

UOIT
Dawson 1-3-0-0 Start: 1st 0:00 Min: 58:57 SV: 28 GA: 3 [L]

Start: 3:30 PM
End: 5:45 PM
Attendance: 250

A QUICK LOOK AT THE RIDGEBACKS

Conference Record: 4-14-2
Overall Record: 5-19-2

Next Action:
Thursday, January 22 @ Guelph (7:30 p.m.) – Campus Ice Centre

Next Home Action:
Friday, January 23 vs. Guelph (7:30 p.m.) – Campus Ice Centre
*Oshawa Minor Hockey Night

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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)