UQTR skates to a victory over UOIT

OUA Men's Hockey: UQTR defeated UOIT 5-1

OSHAWA, Ont. – The UOIT men's hockey team dropped a 5-1 decision to the No. 6 ranked UQTR Patriotes Saturday night at the Campus Ice Centre.

UOIT could not match UQTR's speed as the Patriotes earned their ninth straight conference victory.

The Patriotes offence was spread out throughout the line-up as all five goals were scored by different skaters. Tommy Tremblay scored the game's opening goal and finished the night with three points to lead the way for UQTR, while Keven Robert recorded the game-winning goal early in the second period.

UOIT would cut the Patriotes lead to 3-1 early in the third period as James Diminie (Cobourg, Ont.) scored his third goal of the season, with Brendan Wise (Stouffville, Ont.) and James Woodcroft (Milton, Ont.) picking up assists on the play. Unfortunately for UOIT, that is all of the offence they would generate as UQTR added two late goals to earn the road-victory.

Colin Dzijacky (Thunder Bay, Ont.) got the nod in net once again for UOIT and had a 35 save performance. With 545 saves in his freshman campaign, he ranks second in the CIS trailing only Ryan Holfeld of the University of Saskatchewan (571 saves).

The game ended with some fireworks as the teams combined for 16 penalties with four minutes left on the clock. Three players from each team were ejected from the game.

The rough play at the end of the game sets up an interesting rematch next Friday night when the Ridgebacks travel to Trois-Rivières.

If the playoffs were to begin today, the two teams would match-up as UQTR (16-4-0) sits in second place in the OUA eastern conference standings while UOIT (6-12-3) remains in the seventh spot.

A QUICK LOOK AT THE RIDGEBACKS
Overall Record: 6-18-3
Conference Record: 6-12-3

Next Game: Fri. Jan. 24 @ UQTR (7 p.m.)