The University of Toronto Varsity Blues men's hockey team dropped a 6-2 decision to the No. 8 nationally ranked Ryerson Rams in their 2018 home opener on Friday night (Oct. 12) at Varsity Arena.

HOW IT HAPPENED: Rookie forward Nathan Hudgin opened the scoring late in the first period. David Thomson stripped a Ryerson defenceman of the puck and fed it to Hudgin, who deked around the goalie to find the back of the net. Toronto was up 1-0 after 20 minutes of action.

MHKY: Toronto leads @ryersonrams 1-0 after the first period thanks to Nathan Hudgin's first goal as a Varsity Blue! @OUAsport pic.twitter.com/C380JYI1v3

— U of T Varsity Blues (@Varsity_Blues) October 12, 2018

The Rams opened the flood gates in the second frame. Devon Paliani scored twice, including the equalizer 20 seconds into the period. Matt Mistele put the Rams ahead on the powerplay and Vince Figliomeni also found the back of the net as Ryerson took a 4-1 lead into the second intermission.

Harland scored his second of the night off an Alex Basso point shot on the powerplay early in the third frame. Veteran defenceman Josh Hanson notched his first of the season seven minutes later, skating in off the blue line and burying a Curtis Harvey rebound.

MHKY: TORONTO GOAL! Josh Hanson rallies the troops by burying a Curtis Harvey shot! Toronto trailing @ryersonrams 5-2 with 11:44 to go in the third. pic.twitter.com/6viHYgqArn

— U of T Varsity Blues (@Varsity_Blues) October 13, 2018

The Rams rounded out the scoring as Paliani tallied his third of the game less than two minutes later.

First-year Blues netminder Alex Bishop made 34 saves in the loss.

UP NEXT: The Blues head to Waterloo, Ont., to take on the Warriors tomorrow night (Oct. 13).

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