Byron Elliott’s overtime goal sealed the deal as the Varsity Blues men’s hockey team overcame a three-goal deficit to defeat the Carleton Ravens 4-3 on Friday, November 25 at Varsity Arena.

The Blues win improves their record to 7-4-3, only one point back of the Ravens (9-4-1) for fourth place in the OUA East division.

Elliott (Burlington, Ont.) notched his tenth and eleventh goals of the season, en route to being named the game’s first star. Matt Walters (Winnipeg), and Scarborough native Kyle Ventura also scored for the Blues, while rookie forward Tyler von Engelbrechten (Markham, Ont.) picked up two assists.

After a scoreless first period, the Blues allowed three unanswered goals in the second period. Christian Boudeau-Mifflen, Linden Bahm, and Shane Bakker each scored for the Ravens to give them a 3-0 lead heading into the third.

The Blues weren’t willing to go down without a fight however, and at 8:18 of the third period, Walters wired a slap-shot on the powerplay that beat Ravens goaltender Matthew Dopud over the glove hand to get U of T on the board.

The Blues took advantage of another powerplay at 12:34, when Elliott took a pass from von Engelbrechten and slid it five-hole on Dopud for his first of the night.

Kyle Ventura completed the Blues third period scoring at 17:23, when he grabbed a loose puck off a face-off scrum and fired it high over Dopud’s shoulder to tie the game 3-3.

The Ravens pressured in the final minutes, but Blues goaltender Garrett Sheehan (Cremona, Alta.) made several key saves to send the game to overtime.

Then, at 2:23 of the overtime period, Elliott stripped a Ravens defender of the puck, and raced in alone on Dopud. Elliott managed to corral the rolling puck just before sliding it past Dopud to complete the Blues comeback.

Boudeau-Mifflen had a two-point night for the Ravens and was named the game’s second star.

The Blues next game is tomorrow (Nov 26) at home against the Ottawa Gee-Gees in their 16th annual Minor Hockey Night. Puck drop is 7:30 p.m.

For more information, scores and highlights on your favourite U of T athletes and teams, please visit www.varsityblues.ca. Don’t forget to follow us on Twitter or Facebook for the latest and greatest in Varsity Blues intercollegiate athletics.