OSHAWA, Ont. – UOIT men's hockey head coach Craig Fisher is treating the preseason as a learning opportunity for his players and coaching staff.
 
Sitting up in the stands and evaluating his team, the results on the scoreboard is not what he had hoped to see. However, there were plenty of positives that he could take away from the exhibition games to help prepare for their season opener on October 9 against the McGill Redmen.
 
On Saturday, the Ridgebacks dropped a 4-2 road decision to the Ryerson Rams, allowing an empty net goal in the closing minutes. On Sunday at the Campus Ice Centre, the Ridgebacks fell 5-2 to the defending Queen's Cup champion Guelph Gryphons.
 
Goals by Mitch Bennett and Ben Blasko had the teams entering the third period tied at two, but the Gryphons would outscore UOIT 3-0 in the final 20 minutes to pick up the win in their preseason debut.
 
The preseason game was a chippy affair with the teams combining for 60 minutes of penalties.
 
The Ridgebacks will have almost two weeks off before they take part in the York Invitational. UOIT will take on Toronto on Sept. 24 in the opening round of the tournament.
 
QUICK LOOK AT THE RIDGEBACKS
Overall Record: 0-2-0
Conference Record: 0-0-0
 
Next Game: Sept. 24 vs. Toronto (York Invitational)