OSHAWA, Ont. – The UOIT men's hockey team picked up another two points Saturday night in a thrilling shootout victory over the Ottawa Gee-Gees.
The Ridgebacks gave up a 4-1 lead late in the third period but were able to rebound in the shootout to earn the 5-4 win.
"It was a very positive weekend," said head coach
Curtis Hodgins. "We got all four points and we will look to build on the confidence that gives us moving into our next couple of road games."
The game started off looking evenly matched until the Ridgebacks began to tip the scale in their favour, scoring a late first period goal that would get the ball rolling for them. The goal came off of a tip from
Jack Patterson (Bedford, N.S.), making that his first goal of the regular season.
The Gee-Gees came out strong in the second with a power play goal from Kevin Domingue just 2:35 into the period. But the Ridgebacks answered with two more goals of their own. The first was scored by
Mike Robinson (Stouffville, Ont.), who is now the team leader in goals with a total of seven. The second goal came just moments after when
Ryan Doucette (Waterloo, Ont.) fired one on net beating the goalie blocker-side.
The Ridgebacks would score again just under midway through the third period, with a goal from
Jordan Ross (Kronau, Sask.) to increase their lead to 4-1.
Ottawa wasn't giving up that easily as they began to make their comeback late into the third with a goal from Brendan Jacome. Less than a minute later the Gee-Gees would strike again as Mathieu Newcomb riffled one into the back of the net with the extra man on the ice as Ottawa had pulled their goalie. Newcombe again came in clutch for the Gee-Gees scoring with just 18 seconds left to tie the game and send it into overtime.
After a scoreless five minutes of 3-on-3 overtime action, the game headed into a shootout. The Ridgebacks scored on two of their attempts from Robinson and
Ben Blasko (Kingston, Ont.) while goaltender
Brendan O'Neill (Ilderton, Ont.) stopped all of Ottawa's attempts lifting them to their 5-4 victory.
Robinson has recorded six points in a four-game point streak.
The Ridgebacks will be hitting the road next weekend as they will get set to face the Nipissing Lakers Nov. 17 and the Laurentian Voyageurs on Nov. 18.
UOIT (4-5-1) is tied for seventh place with the Lakers (4-5-1). Ottawa is one point ahead with a 4-4-2 record.
QUICK LOOK AT THE RIDGEBACKS
Overall Record: 6-8-1
Conference Record: 4-5-1
Next game: Friday, Nov. 17 at Nipissing Lakers (North Bay, Ont.)
