Four third period goals would be the demise of the Varsity Bleus men’s hockey team, as they dropped a 6-3 decision to the Ottawa Gee-Gees on Friday, November 12 at Varsity Arena.

With the loss, the Blues are now 2-5-3 and sit in ninth place, while Ottawa improves to 6-3-2 and are tied for fourth with UQTR in the OUA East division.

First-year Ottawa forward Kyle Ireland recorded a hattrick in the third period to lift the visiting team to victory. The Rosetown, Sask., native scored three goals in just over seven minutes to overcome a 3-2 second-period deficit.

First-year Blues forward and Toronto native Michael Markovich opened the scoring six minutes into the game; however, the Gee-Gees quickly answered back with a marker off the stick of Matthew Methioit.

Ottawa went up 2-1 eight minutes into the second period with a goal from Matt White, but the Blues rallied as Scarborough, Ont., native Anthony Bergin and second-year defenceman Tyler Turcotte of St. Catharines, Ont., scored back-to-back goals to give Toronto a 3-2 lead at the second intermission.

The Blues could not stop Ireland in the third period and Paul Forster added an empty netter with four seconds remaining to round out the 6-3 Ottawa victory.

The Varsity Blues return to action on Sunday, November 14 when they travel to Ottawa for a rematch with the Gee-Gees. The puck drops at 2 p.m.

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