OSHAWA, Ont. – The Ontario Tech Ridgebacks continued the strong start to their season with a 4-2 victory over the York Lions on Friday night, improving their record to 8-1.

The Ridgebacks bounced back after allowing an early goal by York's Harry Clark, who scored at 5:27 in the first period with assists from Chase Sandhu and Brandon Walker.

Ontario Tech equalized early in the second period with a goal from Justin Svenson, assisted by Alex Drover, at 1:45. They took the lead at 4:38 on a goal by Gabriel Bernier, with assists from Kyle Leonard and Ben Diamond. Svenson added another goal early in the third period to push the Ridgebacks' lead to 3-1. In the final minutes, Andrew Suriyuth sealed the victory with an empty-net goal, assisted by Cullen McLean, at 17:24. York's Hunter Brown managed to score at 17:52, but it wasn't enough to close the gap.

Goalie Beckett Langkow made 12 saves, helping Ontario Tech hold off York, who registered 14 shots.

They'll face York again tomorrow for the second game of the home-and-home at 7 p.m. at the Campus Ice Centre.