UOIT Ridgebacks Media Release
Friday, October 17, 2008

Ridgebacks Win Home Opener 4-2 over U of T

Men’s Hockey – UOIT defeated U of T 4-2

Oshawa, Ont. – The 2008-09 UOIT Ridgebacks men’s hockey home opener was a huge success as the team skated away with a 4-2 victory over the University of Toronto Varsity Blues in front of a full house at the Campus Ice Centre Friday night.

It was an exciting night at the Dog Pound as the Ridgebacks played a great overall team game enroute to picking up their first conference win of the year. The win came up against a tough Varsity Blues team, who suffered their first loss of the year.

Oshawa native Derrick Bagshaw opened up scoring for UOIT late in the first period as he netted his third goal of the season with less than four minutes left on the clock. The goal was assisted by Mike Noyes (Lucan, Ont.) and Brent Varty (Oshawa, Ont.).

The Ridgebacks continued to apply the pressure on U of T and would be rewarded early in the second period as Shane Nolan (Enfield, N.S.) and Tony Rizzi (Kingston, Ont.) both scored goals to give UOIT a 3-0 lead.

U of T would claw back into the game scoring a power play goal in the second period and adding another goal with less than four minutes left in the third to get the game within one.

With U of T looking to play spoiler, Josh Vatri (Barrie, Ont.) scored an empty net goal to give UOIT the 4-2 win sending the Blue Crew into a frenzy. The game was Vatri’s first appearance with the Ridgebacks this season.

Bagshaw would finish the night with three points, while Noyes ended up with two assists. Noyes is currently fifth in OUA scoring with seven points in three games.

The Ridgebacks outshoot the Varsity Blues 39-25 on the night, recording ten shots or more in each period. Matt Mateja (Mississauga, Ont.) made 23 shots for his first win of the year in net for the Ridgebacks.

In their first three games this season, UOIT has shown tremendous improvement in their offensive production as they have averaged four goals per game, compared to their 2.14 average in their inaugural season.

Home openers at the Campus Ice Centre were a huge success for the UOIT men’s and women’s hockey programs in 2008-09, with the teams picking up wins in front of great crowds.

The men’s team will now rest up they take on divisional rival York University on Friday, October 24 at the Campus Ice Centre. Puck drop for the game is at 7:30 p.m.

GAME RECAP

Toronto 2 at UOIT 4
 
1st Period
1. UOIT, D. Bagshaw (3) (M. Noyes, B. Varty) 16:43 PP
 
2nd Period
2. UOIT, S. Nolan (2) (R. Spencer, D. Turner) 5:17  
3. UOIT, T. Rizzi (1) (M. Noyes, D. Bagshaw) 6:15 PP
4. Toronto, K. Ventura (2) (B. Sherrard, B. Elliott) 12:08 PP

3rd Period
5. Toronto, E. Snetsinger (1) (K. Ventura, B. Elliott) 16:15  
6. UOIT, J. Vatri (1) (D. Bagshaw) 19:20 EN

TOR Shots: 8-7-10 TOTAL: 25
UOIT Shots: 10-16-13 TOTAL: 39

Power Play Conversion
Toronto 1-6
UOIT 2-6

Goaltenders
Toronto
Brownell 2-1-0-0 59:52 min, SV: 35, GA: 3 [L]

UOIT
Mateja 1-1-0-0, 60:00 min, SV: 23, GA: 2 [W]

Start : 7:43 PM
End : 9:53 PM
Attendance : 500
A QUICK LOOK AT THE RIDGEBACKS

Conference Record: 1-1-1
Overall Record: 2-4-1

Next Home Action:
Friday, October 24 vs. York (7:30 p.m.) – Campus Ice Centre

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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)