The University of Toronto Varsity Blues men’s hockey team suffered a 5-4 overtime shootout loss to the Queen’s Gaels on Saturday, January 31 at Kingston Memorial Centre.

Queen’s goaltender Brady Morrison (Thamesville, Ont.) made 52 saves throughout the game to set up a dramatic finish as David Chubb (St. George’s, Nfld.) scored the only shootout goal to secure the 5-4 victory for the host team.

First-year Toronto forward Kyle Ventura (Scarborough, Ont.) opened up the scoring early in game, however Queen’s forward Billy Burke (Aurora, Ont.) capitalized on the powerplay to tie things up before the first period expired.

The Gaels would take advantage of another powerplay opportunity 31 seconds into the second frame to build a 2-1 lead. Toronto assistant captain Joe Rand (Hamilton, Ont.) answered back for the Blues less than two minutes later to even the score yet again.

Rand would set up fellow assistant captain Ed Snetsinger (Ajax, Ont.) 1:23 minutes later to give the Blues their first lead of the game.

The Gaels fired back with two goals of their own and held a 4-3 lead at the end of the second period.

Things were looking grim for Toronto until Queen’s forward Brock Ouellet (Lindsay, Ont.) was called for a tripping penalty at 18:09 of the final frame. On the ensuing powerplay, Rand scored his second goal of the game with 49 seconds left in regulation to force overtime.

Despite an overtime powerplay opportunity, Toronto was unable to convert and the game headed to a shootout.

The OUA mid-East division leading Blues (12-9-0-3) need one more win to clinch a bye in the first round of the OUA playoffs.

The Varsity Blues return to action next Friday, February 6 as they host the RMC Paladins at Varsity Arena. The puck drops at 7:30 p.m.


Toronto 4 at Queen's 5 (SO)
January, 31, 2009 - Kingston Memorial Centre

1st Period
Scoring - 1. Toronto, K. Ventura (14) (K. Martiniuk, B. Elliott) 4:50
2. Queen's, B. Burke (6) (J. Thomson, B. Munroe) 18:43 PP
Penalties - C. Cowdrey Tor (interference) 2:28, S. Duffy Tor (tripping) 17:10, K. Ventura Tor (cross checking) 18:43

2nd Period
Scoring - 3. Queen's, S. Kenway (4) (D. Chubb, P. Doyle) 0:31 PP
4. Toronto, J. Rand (11) (E. Snetsinger, B. Sherrard) 2:05 PP
5. Toronto, E. Snetsinger (9) (J. Rand) 3:28
6. Queen's, B. Burke (7) (C. McGarry, P. Doyle) 7:03
7. Queen's, J. Johnstone (4) (B. Ouellet, T. Sutter) 14:57
Penalties - B. Bureau Que (interference) 0:52, M. Halcro Que (roughing) 9:11, D. Chubb Que (interference) 15:15

3rd Period
Scoring - 8. Toronto, J. Rand (12) (C. Cowdrey, B. Sherrard) 19:11 PP
Penalties - G. Horvath Que (interference) 0:44, B. Pronk Que (hooking) 6:18, B. Elliott Tor (roughing) 7:06, B. Ouellet Que (high sticking) 10:26, B. Ouellet Que (tripping) 18:09

OT Period
Scoring - No Scoring
Penalties - P. Doyle Que (hooking, 10-minute misconduct) 0:26

Shootout
Round 1 - TOR - Kyle Ventura - No
Round 1 - QUE - Blake Pronk - No
Round 2 - TOR - Byron Elliott - No
Round 2 - QUE - David Chubb - Yes
Round 3 - TOR - Claudio Cowdrey - No

TOR Shots: 5 13 31 7 0 TOTAL: 56
QUE Shots: 14 9 5 1 1 TOTAL: 30

Power Play Conversion
Toronto 2-8. Queen's 2-4.

Goaltenders
Toronto
Martin 5-4-0-2 Start: 1st 0:00 Min: 64:49 SV: 25 GA: 4 [SL]

Queen's
Morrison 8-11-0-1 Start: 1st 0:00 Min: 65:00 SV: 52 GA: 4 [W]