Kyle Ventura scored two goals as the Varsity Blues men’s hockey team fell 4-3 to the Nipissing Lakers on Friday, February 11 at Varsity Arena.

With the loss, the Blues are now 10-10-7 and sit in sixth place, while the Lakers end the season with a 17-8-3 regular season record and currently hold third place in the OUA East division.

After a scoreless first period, the Blues went on to score three powerplay goals and out shot the visiting Lakers 40-27 on the night.

A native of Scarborough, Ont., Ventura opened the scoring 2:35 into the second period, when he received a pass from rookie forward Anthony Bergin and shot the puck through the legs of Nipissing goaltender Daniel Spence.

Ventura notched his second of the game less than two minutes later on another powerplay opportunity, with a marker assisted by Paul Dupont and Sean Kliewer. Nipissing’s Dan Watt got his squad on the board with 10 seconds remaining in the second period as the Blues headed to the dressing room with a 2-1 advantage.

Blues leading scorer Blake Boddy of Ajax, Ont., scored Toronto’s third powerplay goal of the night three minutes into the third period, tipping a Dan Brewer point shot past Spence into the net.

Lakers rookie forward Dorian Peca brought the game within one three minutes later and Watt would tie the game with just 1:01 remaining to force the overtime period.

Ryan Maunu was the overtime hero, skating around a Toronto defenceman and sending a shot through traffic to beat Blues goaltender Garrett Sheehan.

The Varsity Blues return to the ice tomorrow night when they travel to Kingston, Ont., to take on the Queen’s Gaels. Game time is set for 7 p.m.