Box Score Blake Boddy notched three goals in leading the Varsity Blues men’s hockey team to a dominant 6-1 decision over the visiting RMC Paladins on Saturday, January 12 at Varsity Arena.
 
With the win, the Blues sweep their season series against the Paladins, winning all three games and improving their record to 11-5-3. They now sit tied with McGill for third place at the crowded top of the East division.
 
Boddy’s (Scarborough) three goals led the way, Jeff Brown (Toronto) picked up a goal and two assists to bring his team-leading point total to 24 on the season, and defenceman Lane Werbowski (Winnipeg) continued his strong rookie campaign with a goal and an assist.
 
Sophomore goaltender Brett Willows (Rivers, Man.) has led the CIS in save percentage all season long, and was as solid as ever in this one, making 26 saves on 27 shots to improve on his 0.935 save percentage.
 
Special teams were at the forefront early, with both teams trading powerplay goals in the first period. Boddy opened the scoring on the man advantage 13 minutes in, when he finished off a give-and-go play with Brown at the side of the net, and slid the puck into the empty cage.
 
The Blues lost their discipline in the latter stages of the period, and allowed the Paladins to strike on a 5-on-3, with rookie forward Brendan Wright picking up RMC’s only goal of the contest.
 
Boddy would restore the Blues lead on another powerplay in the second period though, pouncing on a deflection off Werbowski’s point shot and firing it past first-year goaltender Evan Deviller.
 
Then, after Paul Van De Velde (Mariapolis, Man.) scored on a delayed penalty, Boddy completed the hat trick in stunning fashion. The third-year forward sliced his way through the neutral zone, picking up a pass from Brown along the way, and made a slick move to his backhand before lifting the puck over Deviller to put the game out of reach.
 
Brown and Werbowski added tallies in the third to complete the rout and cement the final score at 6-1 in favour of the Blues.
 
Despite the loss, Deviller made 29 saves for the Paladins.
 
The Blues host the Nipissing Lakers tomorrow night (Jan. 13) at Varsity Arena as they look to gain ground in the competitive East division. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
 
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