UOIT drops game one to the defending champs
 
OUA Men's Hockey Quarterfinals
Game One: UQTR defeated UOIT 8-3
 
OSHAWA, Ont. – The No. 7 ranked UQTR Patriotes would score four power play goals in an 8-3 victory over UOIT in game one of their OUA men's hockey opening round series.
 
The Patriotes finished the night with eight power play attempts and would capitalize on half of them to earn the series-opening win. With UOIT scoring their opening goal in the second period to cut the deficit to 3-1, UQTR countered with back-to-back power play goals less than two minutes apart to take a commanding 5-1 lead.
 
Trailing 6-1 after forty minutes, UOIT interim head coach Justin Caruana turned to back-up goaltender Jacob Rattie (Niagara Falls, Ont.) looking to ignite his team. However, the move would not slow down the defending OUA champions as they netted two goals in the opening five minutes to extend their lead to 8-1.
 
UOIT closed the game out with a pair of goals off the stick of Jesse Stoughton (Bobcaygeon, Ont.), as they finished strong to head into game two with a bit of momentum on their side.
 
Five Patriotes finished the night with multi-point games with Anthony Verret leading the charge with one goal and four assists. Yannick Dube and Tommy Giroux also had big nights combining for two goals and five assists.
 
Stoughton was in on all three UOIT goals as he had two and assisted on James Woodcroft's (Milton, Ont.) strike in the second period. Defenders Jason Shaw (Belleville, Ont.) and Dylan King (Middle Sackville, N.S.) each had two assists apiece.
 
Down 1-0 in the series, UOIT will have to go on the road and win back-to-back games on Saturday and Sunday to extend their series. Game two is slated for 2 p.m. in Trois-Rivières. Fans can watch the games online at www.patriotes.tv.
 
A QUICK LOOK AT THE RIDGEBACKS
Overall Record: 8-23-4
Conference Record: 8-16-4

Next Game: Sat. Feb. 22 vs. UQTR (2 p.m.)