Ridgeback power play goes dry against Ottawa

OUA Men's Hockey: Ottawa defeated UOIT 3-1

OSHAWA, Ont. – The UOIT men's hockey team dropped their sixth straight decision as they fell 3-1 to the University of Ottawa Gee-Gees on the road Saturday night.

Trailing 2-0 heading into the third period, the Ridgebacks cut the Gee-Gees lead in half as freshman Jason Shaw (Belleville, Ont.) scored his third goal of the year. Unfortunately for UOIT, that is as close as they would come as Ottawa added a third goal and went on to earn the twelfth win of the year.

Stephen Blunden and Mathieu Ouellette scored first period markers to give the Gee-Gees an early 2-0 lead. After a scoreless second period, Taylor Collins put the game on ice scoring Ottawa's third goal of the night just over a minute after Shaw's goal.

Saturday's game was a parade to the penalty box as each team recorded 48 penalty minutes including three 10-minute misconducts. Despite both sides combining for 20 power play opportunities, all four goals were scored at even strength as each team went 0-for-10 with the man-advantage.

UOIT goaltender Colin Dzijacky (Thunder Bay, Ont.) was busy in net as he faced 50 Gee-Gee shots. The standout freshman has made 479 saves this season which is the second highest total in the OUA. Ottawa's Harrison May stopped 34 of 35 Ridgeback shots to go on and record his fourth win of the season.

The Ridgebacks are now 5-11-3 in conference play and have dropped to seventh place in the OUA eastern conference standings. UOIT is three points ahead of the Laurentian Voyageurs who lost 12-3 to UQTR on Saturday. Ottawa sits alone in fifth place with a record of 12-7-1.

UOIT returns home on Thursday night where they will face RMC (1-16-2). The Paladins lone win of the year came against UOIT on Friday night in Kingston despite being outshot 52-25. Puck drop at the Campus Ice Centre is 7:30 p.m.

A QUICK LOOK AT THE RIDGEBACKS
Overall Record: 5-17-3
Conference Record: 5-11-3

Next Game: Thu. Jan. 16 vs. RMC (7:30 p.m.)