OSHAWA, Ont. – The UOIT men's hockey team snapped a three-game losing streak on Saturday with a 4-1 win over the Ottawa Gee Gees.
UOIT's special teams were the difference maker in the win with their power play unit going 3-for-3. The penalty killers were not to be outdone as they fought off seven Gee Gee power plays including five straight penalties in the second period.
Ben Blasko (Kingston, Ont.) and
Mike Robinson (Stouffville, Ont.) continued their strong play scoring three of the Ridgebacks' four goals. Unfortunately for the Ridgebacks, both players left the game late in the third period after suffering back-to-back injuries.
Blasko got the Ridgebacks on the board as he one-timed a backhand pass from Robinson 14 minutes into the first period. Two minutes later, Robinson tipped in a shot from the point by
Danny Elser (Hopewell Junction, N.Y.) to put the Ridgebacks up 2-0 at the break.
After the Ridgebacks spent the majority of the second period in the penalty box, they finally got a chance on the power play of their own with less than two minutes to go. Robinson would hit Blasko who was streaking towards the net and managed to beat a stretched out Graham Hunt for his second goal of the game.
Blasko has scored five goals in his last six outings and is currently on a seven-game point streak.
Ryan Doucette (Waterloo, Ont.) would seal the victory for UOIT with an empty netter, giving him five goals on the year.
Brendan O'Neill's shutout streak against the Gee Gees came to an end 7:39 in the third period when Connor Sills beat him on a fluttering shot. In their first meeting of the season, O'Neill shutout the Gee Gees 3-0 making 31 saves. He made 27 stops on Saturday bringing his save percentage to .927, fifth best in the OUA.
UOIT (11-5-0) sits in fourth place in the OUA eastern conference standings, one point behind a trio of teams as McGIll, Queen's and UQTR all have 23 points.
The Ridgebacks will close out conference play at home next weekend with games against Concordia (Friday) and RMC (Saturday). Puck drop at the Campus Ice Centre for both tilts is 7:30 p.m.
QUICK LOOK AT THE RIDGEBACKS
Overall Record: 13-7-2
Conference Record: 11-5-0
Next game: Friday, Dec. 2 vs. Concordia (7:30 PM – Campus Ice Centre)
