TORONTO – The UOIT men's hockey team dropped a 4-2 decision to the Toronto Varsity Blues on Thursday night at Varsity Arena.
 
The Varsity Blues (5-17-2) have won three straight decisions after only picking up two wins in their first 21 games. UOIT's inconsistency continued as they have dropped five of seven games in the second semester.
 
UOIT outshot Toronto 40-25 but Toronto goaltender Michael Nishi had a season-high 38 save performance in his second win of the year. Tyson Teichmann (Belleville, Ont.) made 22 saves in the loss.
 

Shaw ?? Jarvis Nice passing play in tonight's game against the @varsityblues

A video posted by UOIT Ridgebacks (@uoitridgebacks) on Jan 26, 2017 at 8:14pm PST

Connor Jarvis (Port Union, Ont.) opened up scoring for UOIT giving the Ridgebacks a 1-0 lead after one period. Jason Shaw (Ameliasburg, Ont.) fed Jarvis in the slot as the third-year winger sniped his team leading 13th goal of the year. Erik Pedersen (Airdrie, Alta.) also recorded an assist, his second in as many games in a Ridgeback uniform.
 
In the second period, Toronto's Matt Campagna took over the game scoring twice to give the Varsity Blues a 2-1 lead.
 
UOIT outshot Toronto 16-8 in the third period but it was Toronto who scored late as Aidan Wallace got an insurance marker at 17:14 to give the home side a 3-1 lead. It would turn out that Wallace's goal was necessary as Mitch Bennett (Fenelon Falls, Ont.) cut the Varsity Blues' lead to one on the power play with 1:27 left on the clock. Cameron Yuill (Wellington, Ont.) and Mike Robinson (Stouffville, Ont.) picked up assists, as they sit two-three respectively in UOIT scoring with 22 and 21 points on the year.
 
Despite a strong effort, a comeback was not in the cards for UOIT as veteran Dean Klomp sealed the victory with an empty netter 44 seconds following Bennett's goal.

UOIT was 1-for-2 on the power play while Toronto was 0-for-2.

The Ridgebacks will look to get back in the win column on Saturday afternoon when they head back to Toronto to take on the Ryerson Rams. Puck drop at the Mattamy Athletic Centre is 2:30 p.m.
 
QUICK LOOK AT THE RIDGEBACKS
Overall Record: 17-12-3
Conference Record: 14-10-1
 
Next game: Saturday, Jan. 28 @ Ryerson Rams (2:30 PM – Toronto, Ont.)