OSHAWA, Ont. (January 23rd, 2019) – The Queen's Gaels (15-7-0) fell to the UOIT Ridgebacks (13-7-4) by a score of 4-1 in Wednesday night OUA men's hockey action.
GAME FLOW
The Gaels found themselves facing a rare mid-week road trip to Oshawa after a highway accident on November 22
caused an away matchup between themselves and UOIT to be postponed. This marked a fourth straight road game for the Gaels before returning home this weekend.
It appeared as though the unusual travel got the best of the Gaels in the first period, as they were significantly outplayed by the home Ridgebacks and found themselves trailing by two goals to none at the first intermission. At the 2:05 mark of the first, the Ridgebacks Malik Johnson beat out two net-front Gaels defenders and tucked a rebound past an outstretched
Jack Flinn. Later on, the Ridgebacks doubled the lead when JC Thivierge one-timed a shorthanded two-on-one rush opportunity past the Gaels netminder for his first career goal for UOIT. The Ridgebacks also out-shot the Gaels 13-9 in the opening period.
In the second period, after the Ridgebacks failed to capitalize on a five-on-three power-play opportunity, the Gaels got on the board at the 16:45 mark through
Slater Doggett's team-leading 15
th goal of the season, following a mad scramble in front of the UOIT net. The Gaels success would prove to be short-lived however, as the Ridgebacks responded twice in the final minute of the second, taking a 4-1 lead. Within the same 30 second span, both Kari Belec and Malik Johnson capitalized on sloppy defensive play from the Gaels, completely changing the complexion of the game heading to the final frame.
In a chippy third period which resulted in 44 total minutes in penalties between the two teams, both power-plays struggled to create offence, failing to find the scoresheet as the game would end 4-1 in favour of the Ridgebacks. For UOIT, the win gives them a 2-2 split in the season series against the Gaels, and ties them with Queen's for third in the OUA East standings.
MUST-SEE MOMENTS
BY THE NUMBERS
0 for 11 – Neither team was able to capitalize on a man-advantage as they went a combined zero for eleven on the power-play.
32 – UOIT Netminder Brendan O'Neil stopped 32 of 33 Gaels shots
.
UP NEXT
Friday (Jan 25
th) the Gaels host the Laurentian Voyageurs at Kingston Memorial Centre, followed by the Concordia Stingers on Saturday (Jan 26
th). Both game-times are set for 7:30 pm.
CARR-HARRIS CUP
Queen's and RMC meet for the annual Carr-Harris Cup this February 7 at 7:30 pm at the Leon's Centre. Tickets are just $12 and Queen's students are FREE. For more information visit
gogaelsgo.com/chcup.
