Ridgebacks fall short in Ottawa


OUA Men's Hockey: Carleton defeated UOIT 4-1

OTTAWA – The UOIT men's hockey team suffered their second road loss in as many nights as they dropped a 4-1 decision to the Carleton Ravens.

Despite losing nine of their last 10 games, the Ridgebacks (6-14-3) still hold on to a playoff position as they sit seventh in the OUA eastern conference standings. Nipissing (5-15-2) and Laurentian (5-18-0), who trail UOIT by three and five points respectively, also picked up losses on Saturday night.

Jason Shaw (Belleville, Ont.) scored the Ridgebacks' lone goal five minutes into the first period which was the fourth of his freshman campaign. Nate Mitton (Kitchener, Ont.) and Cameron Yuill (Wellington, Ont.) earned assists on the goal.

The Ravens rallied around forward Joey West who scored two goals in the win including the game winner. West also added an insurance marker midway through the second period as buried a rebound past a sprawling Colin Dzijacky (Thunder Bay, Ont.) to put the Ravens up 3-1.

Dzijacky saw a lot of rubber as the Ravens fired 40 shots his way. The rookie goaltender has stopped 581 shots this season, the second most of any OUA goaltender (first among freshmen). Senior Ryan Dube made 16 saves for his 38th career victory.

Saturday's game marked the return of UOIT's interim head coach Justin Caruana to Carleton, where he played five years following his OHL career with Peterborough.

UOIT will return home next weekend for their final two regular season home games. The Ridgebacks will host Laurentian on Thursday (benefit for SickKids night) and Carleton on Friday (Senior's Night). Puck drop for both games is 7:30 p.m.

UOIT has earned points in seven of 12 home games.

A QUICK LOOK AT THE RIDGEBACKS
Overall Record: 6-20-3
Conference Record: 6-14-3

Next Game: Thu. Jan. 31 vs. Laurentian (7:30 p.m.)