Box Score Kyle Ventura scored four goals to help the Varsity Blues men’s hockey team to a dominant 8-1 win over the visiting Queen’s Gaels on Saturday, October 20 at Varsity Arena.
 
The Blues are now 3-0-1 on the season. They are undefeated in regulation time, and currently sit second in the OUA East division.
 
Ventura (Scarborough, Ont.) jumped into a tie for the team’s lead in goals with a four- goal performance, while Paul Van De Velde (Mariapolis, Man.) piled up four assists. Rookie defenceman Lane Werbowski (Winnipeg), and sophomore Jeff Brown (Toronto) each picked up their first goals as members of the Blues. Werbowski also had two assists, and Brown finished with two goals in the win.
 
Brett Willows made 28 saves to earn his second win of the season.
 
The Blues came out flying in the first, outshooting the Gaels 18-5. Brown opened the scoring 2:48 into the period, when he corralled a bouncing puck in the slot and slid it five-hole past Gaels goaltender Riley Whitlock. He wasted little time grabbing his second career goal, scoring a powerplay goal at 11:18 on a laser that beat Whitlock high glove-side.
 
Ventura put Toronto up 3-0 midway through the first, knocking home a rebound from Van De Velde’s wrist shot.
 
Willows kept the lead at three in the first half of the second with several brilliant saves, and at 9:58 Werbowski one-timed a rocket from the point for his first career goal to make the score 4-0 in favour of Toronto.
 
With the score 6-0 in the final period, the Gaels spoiled Willows shutout bid. The sophomore goalie made the initial save on an odd-man rush, but was wiped out by players crashing the net, and Toronto native Tyler Clements buried the rebound to get Queen’s on the board.
 
Ventura would complete his hat trick moments later though, grabbing a rebound behind the net and scoring on a wrap-around to ensure the game stayed out of reach. He added his fourth goal of the game at 13:49, cementing the final score at 8-1.
 
Despite the loss, Whitlock made 42 saves for the Gaels, who were handed their first defeat of the season.
 
The Blues return to action this Thursday, October 25, when they host the Ryerson Rams in TDSB Hockey Day in Toronto at Varsity Arena. The game is scheduled for 11:30 am.


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.