UOIT Ridgebacks Media Release
Wednesday, October 15, 2008

UOIT Ridgebacks Men’s Hockey Season Preview – Home Opener Friday Night!!!

Oshawa, Ont. - The UOIT Ridgebacks men’s hockey team is back from their road trip in Kingston and is ready to hit the ice on Friday night for their 2008-09 home opener at the Campus Ice Centre. The Ridgebacks will take on the University of Toronto Varsity Blues at the Dog Pound starting at 7:30 p.m.

2008-09 Season Outlook

The UOIT Ridgebacks are chomping at the bit to begin their home portion of the 2008-09 season after a successful inaugural year at the Dog Pound. Led by head coach Marlin Muylaert, the Ridgebacks are coming off a very competitive training camp and looking to earn the team’s first postseason berth just their second season.

Muylaert knows his team will have to work hard if they want to qualify for the postseason. “There isn’t one area of the game that we do not need to improve on,” noted the head coach. “However, with a year of experience under our belt and an encouraging second half of the season last year, we are in better position to be competitive this season.”

After winning two of their last three games down the stretch in their inaugural season, the Ridgebacks head into year two with a lot of confidence knowing that they can compete with the best of the best in the OUA. Last year’s leading scorer Nathan Spaling (Drayton, Ont.) will return to the lineup along with teammate Shane Nolan (Enfield, N.S.). The top two forwards combined for 30 points last year, totaling twelve goals for the Ridgebacks. Teams will also have to watch out for the return of Derrick Bagshaw (Oshawa, Ont.), who scored seven goals last season. Bagshaw has been appointed an assistant captain this season by the coaching staff. Captain Richard Power (Toronto, Ont.) is also back and ready to lead the Ridgebacks new and improved defensive unit.

Matt Mateja (Mississauga, Ont.) will be between the pipes for the Ridgebacks after appearing in 23 games last season, having logged over 1370 minutes. Josh Sturrock (Dundalk, Ont.) is eager to get back into the lineup after having his 2007-08 campaign cut short by injuries. Freshman goaltender Nick Fontana of Whitby, Ont. will complete the list of Ridgeback net-minders this season.

The Ridgebacks had an excellent recruiting season landing several key freshmen that should add depth to their line-up. Leading the way is Mike Noyes (Lucan, Ont.), a 6-foot-4 defender who just capped off an unbelievable season with the St. Mary’s Lincolns of the Western Ontario Hockey League, as he was named the Caley Cup Player of the Year. Also joining the team will be Tony Rizzi (Sault Ste. Marie, Ont.), a highly touted playmaker that played four seasons in the OHL with Kingston and Peterborough. Other key recruits include Steve Spade, Jeremy Whelan and Chris Purves.

UOIT is looking to improve on its 6-19-3, fourth-place finish in the OUA Mid West division last season and the UOIT coaching staff is confident that the pieces are in place for a successful year. The Ridgebacks home opener will take place on Friday, October 17 vs. the University of Toronto Varsity Blues at the Campus Ice Centre. Face off is at 7:30 p.m. The first 100 fans in attendance will receive a free schedule magnet courtesy of Lovell Drugs.

2008-09 ROSTER
# - Name – Position – Hometown
1 - Nick Fontana (G) Whitby, Ont.
27 - Matt Mateja (G) Mississauga, Ont.
35 - Josh Sturrock (G) Dundalk, Ont.
4 - TJ  Legge (D) Chapleau, Ont.
5 - Mike Noyes (D) Lucan, Ont.
6 - Jeremy Whelan (F) Pickering, Ont.
7 - Richard Power (D) Toronto, Ont.
8 - Chris Lowe (F) Smith Falls, Ont.
9 - Dustin Turner (F) Charlottetown, P.E.I.
10 - John Koch-Butterworth (F) Uxbridge, Ont.
11 - Nathan  Spaling (F) Drayton, Ont.
14 - Jason Fransky (F) Bancroft, Ont.
17 - Shane Nolan (F) Enfield, N.S.
18 - Ryan Spencer (F) Woodville, Ont.
19 - Josh Vatri (F) Barrie, Ont.
20 - Tommy Tereshyn (F) Scarborough, Ont.
21 - Derrick Bagshaw (F) Oshawa, Ont.
22 - Tony  Rizzi (F) Kingston, Ont.
23 - Steve Spade (D) Rochester, N.Y.
25 - Paul  Pascuzzi (F) Whitby, Ont.
57 - Brent Varty (D) Oshawa, Ont.
77 - Chris Purves (D) Scarborough, Ont.
84 - Tyler Gubler (D) Oshawa, Ont.

- 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