OSHAWA, Ont. – There was plenty to celebrate at the Campus Ice Centre on Saturday afternoon as the UOIT athletic department honoured former captain Nathan Spaling (Drayton, Ont.) while the men's hockey team pulled off a 3-2 double overtime victory over the Queen's Gaels.
Prior to puck drop, the UOIT athletic department paid tribute to Spaling who was a member of the inaugural Ridgeback squad in 2007. As his No. 11 was lowered from the rafters, the two-time athlete of the year looked back at his four-year career as some of the fondest memories in his life as he addressed the crowd surrounded by his family and friends.
About two hours following the ceremony,
Loren Ulett (Port Perry, Ont.) would send the Ridgeback fans home happy as he scored 4:36 into the second overtime period.
Ben Blasko (Kingston, Ont.) won a clean draw back to
Mitch Bennett (Fenelon Falls, Ont.) who sent it across the point to Ulett. The second-year winger blasted a shot off a Queen's defender into the back of the net for the game-winner.
Queen's forced overtime after scoring a pair of third period goals to erase a 2-0 deficit. Darcy Greenaway scored the equalizer with 33.3 seconds left on the clock, beating UOIT goaltender
Tyson Teichmann (Belleville, Ont.) on a one-timer from the slot.
Freshman
Jack Patterson (Bedford, N.S.) gave UOIT a 1-0 lead 2:10 into the game with his sixth goal of the year. Blasko and
Erik Pedersen (Airdrie, Alta.) assisted the opening goal.
Midway through the second period,
Danny Elser (Hopewell Junction, N.Y.) scored his team leading 26
th point as he deflected home his tenth goal of the season.
Jason Shaw (Ameliasburg, Ont.) and
Ryan Doucette (Waterloo, Ont.) each picked up an assist.
Teichmann made 21 saves in the win as he improved to 7-6 on the year. In his first season with the Ridgebacks he has posted a 2.87 goals against average and a .905 save percentage. Jacob Brennan had 41 saves in just his third loss this season.
UOIT's power play was 1-for-3 while shutting out Queen's on four attempts. Shots finished 44-23 in favour of the Ridgebacks.
UOIT is now one point behind Ottawa for sixth place in the OUA eastern conference standings but the Gee-Gees have one game in hand.
The Ridgebacks will close out regular season play on Friday, February 10 when they host the UQTR Patriotes in their second annual school day game. Puck drop is set for 11 a.m.
QUICK LOOK AT THE RIDGEBACKS
Overall Record: 18-13-3
Conference Record: 15-11-1
Next game: Saturday, Feb. 10 vs. UQTR (11 AM – Campus Ice Centre)
