OSHAWA, Ont. – The Ontario Tech University men's hockey team concluded their exhibition play on Friday night, falling 3-1 to the Toronto Varsity Blues.
 
The Ridgebacks looked to refine their play with the final exhibition game, but a slow start provided early controversy as the home team trailed just over two minutes into the contest.
 
"I thought tonight was a great final game for us, we played a real good team who is very quick and feisty," said head coach Curtis Hodgins. "We had a terrible first period, because they basically had the puck the whole time, but we made some adjustments in the intermissions, and I thought the guys responded well."
 
The Ridgebacks delivered a strong bounce back after the first period, as they controlled the tempo for the final 40 minutes. After pulling their goalie late in the third period, the Ridgebacks were relentless with their pressure, but could not solve the opposing netminder.
 
"We're going to have a healthy competition for jobs on a night-to-night basis, which will make everybody better," said Hodgins about the preseason. "I'm encouraged by the team and looking forward to getting everything going."
 
Ontario Tech is set to open their regular season Friday, Oct. 4 at home when they host the Nipissing Lakers.
 

LIGHT THE LAMP

• Toronto had two first period goals, with David Thomson netting the first and Brendan Bornstein making it 2-0 with just over six minutes left in the period.
• Cody Grant (Beaver Bank, N.S.), on a Ridgebacks' power play, collected a rebound at the side of the net and sniped just under the cross bar to cut the lead to 2-1 just over six minutes into the second frame.

MHKY | 🚨 GOAL! @ontariotech_u strikes on the powerplay with this snipe in tight from Cody Grant. @Varsity_Blues lead 2-1. pic.twitter.com/R8NHqtVXXV

— Ontario Tech Ridgebacks (@OT_Ridgebacks) September 28, 2019

• Kevin Lavoie restored Toronto's two-goal lead with six minutes left in the second period.
 

BETWEEN THE PIPES

• Michael Bullion (Anchorage, Alaska) started the game and made 10 saves on 12 shots. Leif Hertz (Kingston, Ont.) entered late in the first and allowed one goal on 12 shots.
• Alex Bishop was in net for the visitors making 24 saves. 
 

RIDGEBACKS AT A GLANCE

Overall Record: 2-2-0
Conference Record: 0-0-0
 
Next Game: Friday, Oct. 4 vs Nipissing Lakers (7:30 p.m. – Campus Ice Centre)