OSHAWA, Ont. – The UOIT men's hockey team earned a 4-2 victory over the RMC Paladins in their inaugural school day game played in front of a capacity crowd at the Campus Ice Centre Friday afternoon.
 
Students from across the Durham Region packed the Campus Ice Centre to watch the Ridgebacks' earn their program high 15th victory of the season.
 
With UOIT goaltender Brendan O'Neill (Ilderton, Ont.) getting the day off after a 44-save performance vs. Carleton on Thursday night, Ben Csiernik (Hamilton, Ont.) would get the start. After allowing two first period goals, the Kinesiology major settled down and stopped all 21 shots he faced over the final forty minutes to earn his first career OUA victory.
 
Tied 2-2 in the second period, Connor Jarvis (Port Union, Ont.) would break the deadlock scoring at 14:42. Jarvis would walk out from the corner and snap one over the blocker of Matt Murphy for his eighth of the season.
 
Less than two minutes later, Jesse Stoughton (Bobcaygeon, Ont.) would cause a turnover behind the net and put home a wraparound to score his third shorthanded goal of the season, giving the Ridgebacks some insurance.
 
RMC would end up outshooting UOIT 16-9 in the third period but neither team would find the back of the net with Jarvis' goal proving to be the game winner.
 
James Woodcroft (Milton, Ont.) opened up scoring for UOIT in the first period as he scored his third goal in as many games while Cam Yuill (Wellington, Ont.) netted the other.
 
Jarvis and Yuill both finished the night with a goal and an assist.
 
Bennett Huber and David Savery were the first period goal scorers for the Paladins.
 
With three points this week, UOIT (15-7-2) has locked up at least the fifth seed in the OUA eastern conference. The Ridgebacks currently hold a five-point lead over Queen's (13-6-1) for fourth place, but the Gaels have four games in hand.
 
The Ridgebacks will have a much-deserved weekend off as they rest up for back-to-back games in Waterloo against Laurier (Thursday) and Waterloo (Friday) next week.
 
QUICK LOOK AT THE RIDGEBACKS
Overall Record: 18-11-2
Conference Record: 15-7-2
 
Next Game: Thurs. Feb. 4 @ Laurier