Byron Elliott was the overtime hero as the Varsity Blues men’s hockey team came back to defeat the No. 4 Western Mustangs 5-4 on Friday, November 19 at Thompson Arena in London, Ont.

With the win, the Blues are 3-6-3 and sit in eighth place in the OUA East, while Western is 10-0-2 and remain atop the West division.

The Blues scored three third-period goals and Elliott (Burlington, Ont.) netted the game-winner at the 2:31 mark of the extra frame to secure the victory. In his first start as a Varsity Blue, rookie goaltender Garrett Sheehan of Cremona, Alta., made an impressive 50 saves in the win.

Western got out to an early 2-0 lead after the first period with goals from Chris Corbeil and Kyle Lamb.

Toronto started the second period seeking revenge and scored a powerplay goal less than four minutes into the frame. Rookie forward Blake Boddy of Ajax, Ont., streaked down the left wing and cut across the front of the net forcing Mustangs netminder Josh Unice (Holland, Ohio) from post to post. Boddy slipped the puck just past Unice’s skate to bring the contest within one goal.

Western’s Jason Furlong countered Toronto’s goal as he ripped a shot through the two defencemen and past a screened Sheehan for a 3-1 lead. The home team went up by three five minutes into the third period on the powerplay when London, Ont., native Scott Aarssen ripped a shot from the point to beat Sheehan.

The Blues quickly turned things around, scoring two goals off the sticks of Zack Fenwick and Robert Kay within thirty seconds to bring the game within one. First-year forward and Scarborough, Ont., native Anthony Bergin surprised Unice and notched the tying goal unassisted with only five minutes remaining in regulation.

The Varsity Blues return to action tomorrow night as they travel to Waterloo, Ont., to take on the Warriors. The puck drops at 7:30 p.m.

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