OUA Men's Hockey Playoffs – Round One
Game One – Queen's defeated UOIT 4-3 (OT)
Game Two – Friday, Feb. 19 @ Queen's (7:30 p.m.) – Kingston, Ont.
Game Three – Sunday, Feb. 21 vs. Queen's (3:30 p.m.) – Campus Ice Centre *If Necessary
 
OSHAWA, Ont. – There were some hometown heroics on Wednesday night in game one of the OUA men's hockey playoffs between UOIT and Queen's. Unfortunately for UOIT, it was Oshawa native Henry Thompson for Queen's who scored the game winner 17:14 into overtime.
 
Thompson, who did not score in the four regular season games that he dressed was set up by Ryan Bloom in the slot and one-timed the puck by Brendan O'Neill (Ilderton, Ont.) giving the Gaels the 1-0 series lead.
 
"We gave them a grade 'A' scoring chance unfortunately, but that is the way hockey goes," said head coach Curtis Hodgins. "We could have been walking out of here on a high with a 4-3 win but we will regroup and be ready for game two."
 
Having the game go into overtime was no surprise to anyone as the teams were as even as it gets heading into the playoffs. The teams finished tied with 38 points after posting program high win totals and split the season series one game apiece.
 
The road team escaping with a win was also not a shock with Queen's record away from home being 10-2-2. UOIT will be hoping for a similar outcome in game two as they head to Kingston with a 10-4-0 regular season road record.
 
"I fully expected being in overtime here tonight being two even teams," said Hodgins. "I give our guys full marks for coming back with two in the last five to take it to overtime."
 
Despite the Ridgebacks applying a lot of offensive pressure in the game, it was Queen's who led on the scoreboard early on as Patrick McGillis and Slater Doggett each scored power play goals.
 
Cameron Yuill (Wellington, Ont.), who took one of the costly penalties earlier in the game, would cut the Queen's lead to 2-1 heading into the third period.
 
Bloom would restore the Queen's two-goal lead eight minutes into the third, beating O'Neill through the five-hole on a shorthanded goal.
 
Despite being down by two the Ridgebacks showed no quit as Connor Jarvis (Port Union, Ont.) scored his first postseason goal with five minutes to go to once again cut the Gaels' lead to one.
 
With O'Neill pulled and 38 seconds to go, defender Jason Shaw (Belleville, Ont.) blasted a shot from the point that fifth-year forward Jesse Stoughton (Bobcaygeon, Ont.) was able to tip in to send the game into overtime.
 
O'Neill finished the night making 29 saves, while former Oshawa General Kevin Bailie stopped 34 of 37 Ridgeback shots on goal.
 
Special teams was a big difference maker in the game as Queen's went 2-for-5 with the man advantage while UOIT went 0-for-3 and allowed a shorthanded goal. Bloom would be in on three of the Queen's goals finishing with a goal and two assists.
 
The Ridgebacks are facing elimination down 1-0 in the series with game two scheduled for Friday night in Kingston. If UOIT forces game three, it will take place at the Campus Ice Centre on Sunday, Feb. 21 at 3:30 p.m.
 
This marks the Ridgebacks ninth straight playoff loss with the team's last win coming in game one of their 2010-11 series with the Laurier Golden Hawks. The Ridgebacks would eventually fall 2-1 in that series.
 
QUICK LOOK AT THE RIDGEBACKS
Overall Record: 21-12-3
Conference Record: 18-8-2
 
Next Game: Fri. Feb. 19 @ Queen's (7:30 p.m.)