The Varsity Blues men’s hockey team struggled on the powerplay in a 3-0 losing effort to the Ryerson Rams on Thursday night (Jan. 19) at George Bell Arena.

With the post-season approaching, every two points count for playoff positioning. Tonight was no exception as the loss drops Toronto to 10-8-3 and moves the Rams (10-8-3) into a tie with their crosstown rivals for sixth place in the OUA East.

The Blues went 0-for-9 on the powerplay, while giving up the eventual game-winner on the man-advantage. 

Both teams looked hungry off the opening faceoff and exchanged opportunities to score.  OUA male athlete of the week Garrett Sheehan of Cremona, Alta., came up huge for the Blues, denying rookie forward David Grant on a breakaway nine minutes into the contest.

The Rams opened the scoring with a short-handed marker from Norwich University transfer Matt McCann late in the first period.  The Newmarket, Ont., sent a quick snap shot past Sheehan, capitalizing on a neutral-zone turnover as Ryerson streaked down the ice on a 3-on-1 opportunity.

Toronto’s Dan Brewer, Byron Elliott and Paul Van De Velde peppered Rams goaltender Troy Passingham with shots on the ensuing shift, but the home team held on and maintained the 1-0 advantage heading into the first intermission.

The Blues came out flying in the second period but a stream of penalties would take the offensive surge out of the visiting squad.  First-year forward T.J. Battani nearly put the Rams up by two when he intercepted a centering pass deep in Toronto territory and fired a shot toward the top corner of the net, only to be met by the glove of Sheehan. 

Toronto’s best chance to equalize came on a 4-on-3 attempt for 1:02 towards the end of the second, but Passinham denied everything that came his way. Victor Terreri would put the Rams up by two, jumping on a rebound in the Toronto crease with 22 seconds remaining in the second frame.

Ryerson’s David Harris added an insurance marker midway through the third period to round out the three-goal win.

The Varsity Blues look to bounce back this Saturday, January 21 as they travel to Kingston, Ont., to take on the Queen’s Gaels. The puck drops at 7:30 p.m.

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