The Varsity Blues men’s hockey team opened their 2010-11 regular season campaign with a narrow 3-2 overtime loss to the OUA defending champion McGill Redmen on Friday, October 9 at Varsity Arena.

Ryan McKeiran of White Plains, N.Y., was the overtime hero, scoring 1:34 into the extra frame on a low shot from the point.

Varsity Blues rookie forward Michael Markovic of Toronto opened the scoring when he jumped on a Joel Lenius (Markham, Ont.) rebound in front of the net just four minutes into the game.

The Redmen evened the score on the powerplay as Toronto native Andrew Wright finished off a quick passing play with Alexandre Picard-Hooper and Francis Verreault-Paul in the dying minutes of the first period.

Fourth-year Blues defenceman Sean Kliewer of Brunkid, Man., got the go-ahead goal midway through the second period when he sent a booming shot from the point through traffic and over the glove of McGill goaltender Hubert Morin (St-Georges-de-Beauce, Que.).

The Blues held a 2-1 lead heading into the final frame.

McGill came out and dominated the third period, outshooting Toronto 13-5. The Redmen capitalized and evened the score with a goal off the stick of Guillaume Doucet (Anjou, Que.) at the 6:08 mark of the third period.

U of T goaltender Andrew Martin of Mississauga, Ont., stopped 36 shots, including a huge pad save in the last four minutes of the third period, to earn Varsity Blues player of the game recognition.

The Varsity Blues return to the ice tomorrow night when they host the UQTR Patriotes at Varsity Arena. The puck drops at 7:30 p.m.

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