OSHAWA, Ont. – The UOIT men's hockey team dropped their third straight game in a hard-fought 5-3 loss to the Carleton Ravens Thursday night at the Campus Ice Centre.
 
The Ravens (13-7-1) have won three straight games including two over UOIT to move into fourth place in the OUA eastern conference. UOIT (12-8-1) is tied for fifth place with UQTR (12-6-1) but the Patriotes have two games in hand.
 
Freshman Malik Johnson (Montreal, Que.) registered a goal and an assist for UOIT, while captain Cam Yuill (Wellington, Ont.) produced a multi-point game with two assists, matching a career-high with 18 points. Brendan O'Neill (Ilderton, Ont.) made 23 saves in goal.
 
The Ravens had a well-balanced offensive attack with five players scoring goals. Goaltender Francois Brassard allowed two first period goals and was replaced by former Oshawa General Justin Nichols who made 15 saves in the victory.
 
After an 8-0 drubbing last weekend by Carleton, both teams came out flying in the first period as it was fast paced and physical. Offence was also not hard to come by as each side scored two goals in the opening 20 minutes.
 
Johnson got the Ridgebacks on the board 5:09 into the game which was followed by two Carleton goals from Alexandre Boivin and Josh Burnside. Connor Jarvis (Port Union, Ont.) would level the score with a wrap-around goal with two minutes remaining, his team leading 11th goal of the season.
 
In the second period, the Ravens fought off four minor penalties followed up with a goal from Hayden Hulto to regain the lead. Mike Robinson (Stouffville, Ont.) managed to tie things up at 14:05, recording his ninth of the year.
 
At 18:01 in the second, David Weckworth had his point shot deflect off a Ridgeback defender at the hash marks and in, putting the Ravens back in front 4-3.
 
In the third period, the Ravens defence did a tremendous job limiting UOIT's offensive attack holding the Ridgebacks to just four shots on goal.
 
Fourth year veteran Corey Durocher sealed the win for the Ravens with an empty netter at 19:29.
 
Carleton outshot UOIT 36-35 and finished 1-for-3 on the power play. The Ridgebacks went 0-for-5 with the man advantage.
 
UOIT returns to action on Sunday, going on the road to take on the Nipissing Lakers on Sunday, January 15. Game time in North Bay is 7:15 p.m. UOIT beat Nipissing 4-3 in overtime in October.
 
NOTES: The Ridgebacks joined forces with Wounded Warriors Canada in a fundraising effort.
 
QUICK LOOK AT THE RIDGEBACKS
Overall Record: 15-10-3
Conference Record: 12-8-1
 
Next game: Jan. 15 @ Nipissing (7:15 p.m.)