The University of Toronto Varsity Blues men’s hockey team fell 4-3 in overtime to the No. 5 UQTR Patriotes on Friday, November 27 at Varsity Arena.

Fourth-year UQTR defenceman Nicolas Desilets (Nicolet, Que.) secured the win just 1:15 into the overtime frame, sending a low shot from the point that trickled through a screened Blues goaltender Russ Brownell (Oakville, Ont.).

This is the second time in 2009-10 that the nationally ranked Patriotes have needed extra time to get past the Blues - the first coming on Oct. 31 when UQTR defeated Toronto 4-3 in a shootout. U of T is now 5-7-3 and sits in a three-way tie for fifth in the OUA East division.

The Blues opened the scoring when assistant captain Ed Snetsinger (Ajax, Ont.) skated in off the blue line and fed a pass to second-year forward Claudio Cowdrey (Mississauga, Ont.) who sent a snap shot over the glove of UQTR goaltender Jean-Christophe Blanchard (Trois-Riviéres, Que.) and into the net.

Toronto went up by two on their first powerplay opportunity of the game as Snetsinger sent a low wrist shot from the point to fellow veteran Joe Rand (Hamilton, Ont.) who tipped it through Blanchard’s legs to find the back of the net.

U of T held a 2-0 lead after the first period.

UQTR would finally get on the board 7:27 into the second period when Steve Bellefleur (St-Basile-le-Grand, Que.) skated around a sprawling Brownell, sending a shot off the post and linemate Olivier Donovan (Gatineau, Que.) was there to put in the rebound.

The Patriotes continued to press but a solid effort from Brownell, including a big save on first-year forward Pierre-Alexandre Joncas’ (Matane, Que.) short handed breakaway, would allow Toronto to maintain their 2-1 lead heading into the third period.

UQTR evened the score 1:43 into the third period as Francis Charland (Victoriaville, Que.) sent a shot from the high slot into the bottom left corner of the Blues net.

The Patriotes took their first lead of the game five minutes later as Alexandre Demers (Laurier-Station, Que.) finished off a beautiful passing play with Charland on a powerplay advantage.

The Blues began to rally in the last 10 minutes of regulation with solid scoring chances from forwards Robert Kay (Orono, Ont.) and Byron Elliott (Burlington, Ont.).

With Brownell pulled and just 15 seconds remaining on the clock, Elliott would keep the Blues hopes alive as he fought through a scramble to bury a Cowdrey rebound and force overtime.

Brownell made 36 saves in the loss and third-year forward Dan Brewer (Cambridge, Ont.) was named the Varsity Blues player of the game.

The Blues return home tomorrow night as they host the 14th annual Minor Hockey Night against the McGill Redmen at Varsity Arena. 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.