The University of Toronto Varsity Blues men’s hockey team suffered a 4-3 overtime shootout loss to the UQTR Patriotes on Saturday, October 31 at Arena Claude Mongrain in Montreal, Que. 

With no goals after five shooters, UQTR’s Francis Charland was the shootout hero, putting the puck past Blues goaltender Russ Brownell (Oakville, Ont.) to secure the 4-3 victory. 

Francis opened the scoring 6:31 into the game on a Patriotes powerplay, however, Blues assistant captain Ed Snetsinger (Ajax, Ont.) would even the score on a Toronto man advantage to leave the game tied 1-1 after the first period of play. 

The Patriotes came out flying in the second period to outshoot Toronto 19-6. UQTR’s Steve Bellefleur scored just 2:13 into the period but the Blues would again tie things up off a powerplay marker from second-year forward Claudio Cowdrey (Mississauga, Ont.). 

Patriotes captain Nicolas Desilets got the go-ahead goal just past the midway point of the game to give his squad a 3-2 lead heading into the final frame. 

The Blues picked up the pace in the third period and looked hungry to tie the game. OUA leading scorer Byron Elliott (Burlington, Ont.) did just that with less than nine minutes remaining to force overtime. 

The Patriotes held the upper hand in the extra frame, outshooting the Blues 4-1, but were unable to solve Brownell and the game went into a shootout. 

The Varsity Blues return to action next Friday, November 6 as they host the Ottawa Gee-Gees at Varsity Centre. The puck drops at 7:30 p.m. 

For more information, scores and highlights on your favourite Toronto teams, please visit the home of the Varsity Blues at http://www.varsityblues.ca.