OSHAWA, Ont. – After 60 minutes of scoreless hockey between UOIT and Laurentian, it only took 23 seconds of overtime to break the stalemate as Ben Blasko (Kingston, Ont.) scored the winner in a 1-0 Ridgeback win Friday night at the Campus Ice Centre.

With the win, UOIT (17-8-2) is now in the driver's seat to clinch home ice advantage for the opening round of the OUA playoffs with their regular season finale against Nipissing taking place on Saturday night. UOIT is tied with Queen's (16-7-4) with 36 points but hold the tie-breaker. Queen's dropped a 3-2 overtime decision to Nipissing on Friday.
 
Brendan O'Neill (Ilderton, Ont.) was clutch for UOIT in the win as he made 27 saves for his first career OUA shutout.
 
One of his biggest saves of the night came in overtime that was immediately followed up with Blasko's game winner. Blasko picked up the puck after O'Neill's pad save and drove up the ice. Blasko would feed Jesse Stoughton (Bobcaygeon, Ont.) who would play a perfect give-and-go to send him alone on goal. Blasko would make no mistake going high-blocker side to give the Ridgebacks their 17th win of the year.
 
O'Neill is third in OUA saves (731) and wins (16) while second in minutes played (1538:03) this year. At the other end of the ice, Laurentian goaltender Alain Valiquette was just as impressive stopping 28 of 29 Ridgeback shots on net.
 
Stoughton has been on a role since the start of 2016 averaging over a point per game with 12 points in 11 games including a current four-game point streak.
 
UOIT's power play struggled in the win going 0-for-4 with the man advantage. Laurentian failed to score on their lone attempt.
 
With Saturday's game against Nipissing being UOIT's regular season finale, the Ridgebacks will honour four of the team's graduating senior's prior to puck drop.
 
QUICK LOOK AT THE RIDGEBACKS
Overall Record: 20-12-2
Conference Record: 17-8-2
 
Next Game: Sat. Feb. 13 vs. Nipissing