OUA Men's Hockey: Laurentian defeated UOIT 4-3 (OT)

SUDBURY, Ont. – The UOIT men's hockey team could not hold on to a two-goal third period lead as the Laurentian Voyageurs earned a 4-3 comeback victory in their season opener.
 
Despite the loss, UOIT picked up a point as the Voyageurs needed overtime to break the deadlock. Just over four minutes into the extra frame, Laurentian's Michael MacDonald was awarded a penalty shot in which he would convert for the win.
 
UOIT was looking to knock off Laurentian in their home opener for the second straight year, as the Ridgebacks defeated the Voyageurs 5-4 one season ago in their first home game in 13 years.
 
Ridgeback senior Kevin George (Uxbridge, Ont.) scored the opening two goals of the game with Nate Mitton (Kitchener, Ont.) drawing a pair of assists.
 
With the Ridgebacks holding a 2-1 lead, Brendan Wise (Stouffville, Ont.) looked as if he had put the nail in the coffin as he scored with 14 seconds to go in the second period. Freshmen Adam Campagnolo (Waterloo, Ont.) and Mike Robinson (Stouffville, Ont.) recorded their first OUA points with assists on Wise's 31^st career goal.
                                                               
Drawing energy from their hometown crowd, Laurentian would waste no time in the third period to tie things up as Darcy Haines and Dylan Fitze each scored five minutes into the frame. The Voyageurs carried that momentum into the extra period and would eventually skate away with two points.
 
Shots finished up 42-39 in favour of the Ridgebacks. Making his UOIT debut in goal, Brendan O'Neill (Ilderton, Ont.) stopped 35 shots while Sudbury native Alain Valiquette made 39 saves in the win. O'Neill was familiar to fans in Sudbury having played two seasons with the Wolves of the Ontario Hockey League.
 
Both power plays were ineffective combining to go 0-for-9.
 
Up next for UOIT is a trip east along highway 17 as the Ridgebacks meet up with the Nipissing Lakers. Saturday's game will be Nipissing's season opener with puck drop at 7 p.m.
 
A QUICK LOOK AT THE RIDGEBACKS
Overall Record: 1-2-2
Conference Record: 0-0-1
 
Next Game: Saturday, October 4 @ Nipissing