OTTAWA, Ont. - The UOIT men's hockey team fell 6-2 versus the No. 5 nationally-ranked Ottawa Gee-Gees on Saturday night in Ottawa.

After falling behind 3-0 after the first period, UOIT stormed back in the second scoring two goals to draw within one goal of the OUA east leading Gee-Gees. However, a disastrous third period saw Ottawa add another three goals to secure their 20th victory of the season. The loss drops UOIT's record to 13-8-5 on the season, remaining in a tight race for the final playoff positions with Concordia and UQTR.

The Ridgebacks will return to the nation's capital next Friday, Feb. 8 to challenge the Carleton Ravens, before returning to the Campus Ice Centre to close out the regular season in a crucial showdown with Concordia on Saturday, Feb. 9.  
 

LIGHT THE LAMP

• Ottawa opened the game with three first period goals scored by Matthew Dunlop, Jean-Francois Plante and Brendan Jacome.
• Midway through the second period Jake Bricknell (Port Perry, Ont.) scored his seventh goal of the season off a precise pass from captain Danny Elser (Hopewell Junction, N.Y.) to put the Ridgebacks on the board.
• Jack Patterson (Bedford, N.S.) brought UOIT within one at 17:49 of the second period, scoring a shorthanded marker with assists from Malik Johnson (Montreal, Que.) and Tyler Mayea (Burlington, Ont.).
• The Ridgebacks momentum was ended in the third period as the Gee-Gees had their second three-goal period of the game, with goals from Medric Mercier, Antoine Pouliot, and Quinn O'Brien.
 

BETWEEN THE PIPES

• Fifth-year veteran Brendan O'Neill (Ilderton, Ont.) started for the Ridgebacks, making 25 saves in the loss.
• Despite the tough second period, Graham Hunt earned the win for the Gee-Gees making 27 saves.
 

RIDGEBACKS AT A GLANCE

Overall Record: 15-10-5
Conference Record: 13-8-5

Next game: Friday, Feb. 8 @ Carleton Ravens • 7 p.m. - Ottawa, Ont.