OSHAWA, Ont. – There were numerous storylines in the UOIT men's hockey team's final home game of the regular season – with arguments for each as the highlight of the evening.
 
Prior to defeating the visiting Voyageurs team 5-1, the Ridgebacks honoured assistant captain Ben Blasko (Kingston, Ont.), who was playing his final regular season home game with UOIT. He earned an assist in the game – his 25^th of the season – to add to his single-season record setting 34 points.
 
That assist came on Connor Jarvis' (Port Union, Ont.) first goal of the season. Although he has been out of the lineup in multiple games this year, Jarvis finished 2016-17 with 13 goals and 20 points. Getting the monkey off his back couldn't have happened in much better fashion as he one-timed the saucer pass from Blasko past Mackenzie Savard for UOIT's third goal of the night.
 
"I had a couple two-on-ones before that and the defencemen made nice plays, so it was nice to finally get it across to Jarvy, even though they did get a piece of it," said Blasko. "It was nice to see him get a couple tonight and hopefully we can keep him rolling going into the playoffs."
 
At that point in the second period, the 16:30 mark, the Ridgebacks had already seen goals by Jack Patterson (Bedford, N.S.) in the first period and Malik Johnson's (Montreal, Que.) shorthanded marker in the second. Before the second intermission Dylan Fitze put the Voyageurs on the board as they trailed 3-1.
 
The next storyline – and the smile couldn't have been bigger for the birthday boy – came from Tucker White (Holden, Mass.). The 6'5 defenceman, in his rookie season with the Ridgebacks, has appeared in 23 games – earning four assists before Friday night's tilt. With a blast from the point he put the puck in the top right corner past Savard at the 9:51 mark of the third for his first OUA goal.
 
"I was saving it for the playoffs, but I guess it came early," White joked after the game.
 
Jarvis added his second of the night with an empty-net goal with 4:55 to go. The Voyageurs pulling the goalie appeared to be in hopes of sparking the offence as they're in a playoff race for the final playoff spot with the RMC Paladins and need a lone win this weekend to clinch.  
 
Brendan O'Neill (Ilderton, Ont.) made 32 saves for his eighth win of the season.
 
UOIT will now help determine their fate tomorrow as they travel to Ottawa to face the Gee-Gees. The winner, if in regulation, will finish fifth in the OUA eastern conference and play the loser – again if in regulation – of the Carleton and Concordia game.
 
Regardless, the Ridgebacks will likely play Carleton or Concordia, unless the Nipissing Lakers upset the second-place Queen's Gaels.
 
Puck drop in Ottawa is scheduled for 7 p.m. For details on the Ridgebacks playoff series and schedule, check www.uoitridgebacks.com and @UOITRidgbacks on social media on Saturday night.
 
QUICK LOOK AT THE RIDGEBACKS
Overall Record: 17-12-3
Conference Record: 15-9-3

Next game: Saturday, Feb. 10 vs. Ottawa Gee-Gees (7 p.m. – Ottawa, Ont.)