OSHAWA, Ont. – The Ontario Tech University men's hockey team scored five unanswered goals Saturday night in a 5-2 comeback win over the No. 4 ranked Ottawa Gee-Gees.
The Ridgebacks were hosting a second nationally ranked team in as many games and Ottawa showed why they are nationally ranked, first taking advantage of a fortunate break, then capitalizing on the man advantage to hold a 2-0 lead heading into the first intermission.
Staring at a two-goal deficit, the home team began the second frame under duress. Showing strong character, the Ridgebacks kept fighting and were eventually rewarded when captain
Alex Yuill (Wellington, Ont.) fired a point shot past the netminder. With the swing in momentum the home side kept pressing and evened the game 2-2 heading into the final frame.
"Where I liked our bounce-back was after that first period," said head coach
Curtis Hodgins. "Our guys could have rolled over, but we fought back against a very good hockey team."
The Ridgebacks held momentum early in the third period and took the lead just over three minutes into the frame. A solid team defence helped the home side hold off an offensive surge from the Gee-Gees, while a pair of empty net goals sealed the comeback victory for Ontario Tech.
The Ridgebacks will now travel to St. Catharines for a mid-week clash with the Brock Badgers Wednesday night.
• Mathieu Newcomb opened at 13:40, with Michael Poirier adding a second goal just 3:04 later.
• Yuill's wrist shot from the point beat both the shot block and netminder at 13:57 of the second.
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Austin Eastman (Lindsay, Ont.) corralled a loose puck in the neutral zone at 15:33, before speeding into the offensive zone on a partial break to beat the goalie five-hole.
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Brett Harasymuk (Yorkton, Sask.) scored the game winner at 3:10 of the third, when he slid the puck under a sprawled Gee-Gees goaltender.
•
Kari Belec (Sudbury, Ont.) at 17:41, and
Jack Patterson (Bedford, N.S.) at 19:43, each scored an empty netter to seal the win.
•
Michael Bullion (Anchorage, Alaska) stopped 25 shots for the win.
• Nick Hodgins made 19 saves in the loss.
Overall Record: 6-6-0
Conference Record: 4-4-0
Next Game: Wednesday, Oct. 30 @ Brock Badgers (7:15 p.m. – St. Catharines)
