OSHAWA, Ont. – It's not how head coach Curtis Hodgins drew it up but the No. 9 ranked UOIT men's hockey team managed to get a win in their 2016-17 home opener beating the Laurentian Voyageurs 5-4 in overtime.

After Laurentian's Christopher Smith roofed the puck to tie the game at 4-4 with just over a minute in regulation, the Ridgebacks looked as if they were going to give the game away.
 
Jake Logan (Napanee, Ont.) and Cameron Yuill (Wellington, Ont.) had other thoughts as Logan one-timed a give-and-go pass under the glove of Laurentian goaltender Joel Vienneau for the game-winner.
 
The Ridgebacks were disappointed that Logan's OT winner was necessary as they held a 3-0 lead late in the second period behind goals from Danny Elser (Hopewell Junction, N.Y.), Ryan Doucette (Waterloo, Ont.) and Ben Blasko (Kingston, Ont.). Elser and Blasko have three-game point streaks to start the season.
 
After Laurentian cut the lead to 3-2, Yuill potted his second goal of the year to restore the Ridgebacks two-goal lead. The Voyageurs had a no-quit attitude as they scored two late third period goals to force overtime and pick up a point.

UOIT goaltender Brendon O'Neill (Ilderton, Ont.) was busy in net facing 52 shots including six in overtime.  Vienneau ended up with 27 saves in the losing effort for Laurentian.
 
Yuill and freshman Malik Johnson (Montreal, Que.) ended the night as the only Ridgebacks with multi-point nights.
 
Both power plays struggled going 0-for-3.
 
With a 3-0 record, UOIT is in first place and the only team in the OUA eastern conference without a loss. There will not be much time to celebrate the win as the Ridgebacks host the Nipissing Lakers at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday afternoon.
 
QUICK LOOK AT THE RIDGEBACKS
Overall Record: 5-1-2
Conference Record: 3-0-0
 
Next Game: Sat. Oct. 15 vs. Nipissing (3:30 p.m.)