The University of Toronto Varsity Blues men's hockey team is set for back-to-back home games at Varsity Arena this weekend, welcoming the Waterloo Warriors Friday night (Nov. 6) and the No. 4 nationally ranked McGill Redmen Saturday evening (Nov. 7).

Game time on both nights is 7:30 p.m. Advance tickets are on sale at varsityblues.ca/tickets. Both games will also be streamed live on OUA.tv.

The Blues enter the weekend looking to end a three-game losing streak as they currently hold a 2-4-1 record in the OUA West division.

Motivation to end the skid will be high as they first look to avenge an early-season loss to the Warriors. In their previous matchup, goaltender Michael Nishi made an astounding 43 saves. He currently ranks eighth in the conference with a .918 save percentage, and coupled with fifth-year netminder Brett Willows, Toronto is solid between the pipes.  

In front of Nishi, the Blues defence will look to avoid a repeat of the 40 shots allowed vs Waterloo midway through October. Toronto has excelled since that meeting and now leads the OUA in shots allowed per game with just 27.6.

Offensively, fourth-year forwards Patrick Marsh and Christian Finch are proven playmakers, leading U of T with seven points each. Whereas Marsh has provided a deft scoring touch, leading the Blues with four goals, Finch has played setup man leading the team with six assists in the teams seven games played.

For the 4-4 Warriors, discipline will be a key factor if a victory is to be had. Waterloo currently leads the OUA in penalty minutes (245). With a penalty kill ranking in the bottom half of the OUA it will be important to stay out of the penalty box against the Varsity Blues.

Up front Waterloo is led by fourth-year forward Colin Behenna with 11 points (4 G, 7 A) in eight games this season.

Following the matchup with Waterloo the Varsity Blues will need to be ready as they welcome McGill, who sits atop the OUA East with a 7-1 record.

As a team, McGill currently holds two of the top offensive threats in the OUA in fifth-year defenceman Samuel Labrecque and fourth-year forward Mathieu Pompei. Labrecque currently leads the OUA with 15 points (7 G, 8 A), while Pompei sits only one point behind with 14 (7 G, 7 A).

With five total players with 10 points or more, the Blues will need their A game to shut down this offensive juggernaut.

Following the weekend at home the Varsity Blues will hit the road to head on their annual northern road trip to take on both the Laurentian Voyageurs and Nipissing Lakers, November 13-14.

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