Ridgebacks late comeback effort falls short
OUA Men's Hockey: Brock defeated UOIT 3-2
OSHAWA, Ont. – The UOIT Ridgebacks men's hockey team could not overcome a three-goal deficit in their home opener on Thursday night as they fell to the Brock Badgers by a score of 3-2.
Trailing 3-0 late in the third period, UOIT would storm back with a pair of goals 35 seconds apart to put the Badgers back on their heels. Despite late pressure with the goaltender pulled, the Ridgebacks were unable to complete the comeback as Brock skated away with a 3-2 win and two points in the standings.
Brock shot out to a 1-0 lead as fifth year senior Josh Schram (Paris, Ont.) scored a wrap-around goal 27 seconds into the game. The veteran used his body to force the puck and UOIT goaltender
Colin Dzijacky (Thunder Bay, Ont.) into the net. After a conference by the four officials, the goal would stand.
The Badgers would go on to score two goals in the early stages in the second period, with Ryan Purvis (Orillia, Ont.) and CJ Dickson (Thorold, Ont.) getting on the board. Dickson's goal was a shorthanded marker.
Although UOIT trailed 3-0 heading into the third period, they were outshooting Brock 30-21.
In the late stages of the third period,
James Diminie (Cobourg, Ont.) broke the ice for UOIT scoring with just over two minutes left to play.
Mitch Bennett (Fenelon Falls, Ont.) picked up an assist on the play, as Diminie blasted one between the goaltenders left pad and glove.
With momentum on their side, UOIT would strike 35 seconds later when
Matt Salituro (Toronto, Ont.) scored his first goal as a Ridgeback.
Luke VanMoerkerke (Tillsonburg, Ont.) and
Matt Pasztor (Langton, Ont.) had assists on the goal.
Much like the first 58 minutes of the game, Brock starting goaltender Dalton McGrath (Toronto, Ont.) stole the show for the remaining minute and a half as he made several key stops to preserve the one-goal victory. McGrath finished the night with 42 saves while Dzijacky stopped 24 of 27 shots in his Ridgeback debut.
Both teams finished 0-for-5 with the man-advantage in their season debut.
UOIT will look to pick up their first win of the year on Saturday night when they host the York Lions. Puck drop at the Campus Ice Centre is 7:30 p.m.
A QUICK LOOK AT THE RIDGEBACKS
Overall Record: 1-4-0
Conference Record: 0-1-0
Next Game: Sat. Oct. 5 vs. York (7:30 p.m.)
BOX SCORE
Brock 3 at UOIT 2 - Status: Final
Thursday, October 3, 2013 - Campus Ice Centre
Brock 1 2 0 - 3
UOIT 0 0 2 - 2
1st Period-1, Brock, Schram 1 (MacPherson), 0:37. Penalties-VanMoerkerke Uoit (tripping), 4:54; McGrath Bro (tripping), 5:40; Christmas Bro (high sticking), 17:54.
2nd Period-2, Brock, Purvis 1 (Andrews, Christmas), 5:22. 3, Brock, Dickson 1 ( Purvis), 7:34 (SH). Penalties- Tanel Bro (hooking), 6:49; Salituro Uoit (roughing), 8:38; Yuill Uoit (tripping), 19:52.
3rd Period-4, UOIT, Diminie 1 (Bennett), 17:58. 5, UOIT, Salituro 1 (VanMoerkerke, Pasztor), 18:33. Penalties-McGrath Bro (roughing), 6:19; Stoughton Uoit (unsportsmanlike cnd.), 6:19; Logan Uoit (major-checking to the head), 7:51; VanMoerkerke Uoit (hooking), 11:58; Doczy Bro (unsportsmanlike cnd.), 14:55; Gregorack Uoit (unsportsmanlike cnd.), 14:55; Schram Bro (holding), 15:14; Tanel Bro (10-minute misconduct), 19:59; MacEachern Bro (10-minute misconduct), 19:59; Stajan Bro (cross checking), 19:59; Shaw Uoit (10-minute misconduct), 19:59; Stoughton Uoit (10-minute misconduct), 19:59; VanMoerkerke Uoit (unsportsmanlike cnd.), 19:59.
Shots on Goal-Brock 8-13-6-27. UOIT 16-14-14-44.
Power Play Opportunities-Brock 0 / 5; UOIT 0 / 5.
Goalies-Brock, McGrath 1-0-0 (44 shots-42 saves). UOIT, Dzijacky 0-1-0 (27 shots-24 saves).
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