The No. 8 nationally ranked Varsity Blues men's hockey team beat the Nipissing Lakers 4-3 in their first of back-to-back games this weekend in North Bay, Ont. 
 
Offence was the name of the game in the first period, with both teams scoring five goals combined. The Blues opened the scoring halfway through the first period with a goal from second-year forward Nicholas Wong, his first of two in the period. The Lakers would come back twice in the first, but a goal from defencemen Ryan Barbosa late in the period secured the lead for the Blues after 20 minutes of play. 
 
The goals continued into the second period, when Nipissing tied the game midway through the frame. However just 28 seconds later, the Blues tied up the game with a goal from forward Ben Woodhouse.
 
Blues goalie Jett Alexander kept the door shut in the third period helping the Blues secure the 4-3 victory. Alexander finished the game with 26 total saves. 
 
The Blues will play the second half of their back-to-back against the Lakers on Saturday, January 6. Puck drop is set for 7:30 p.m., with the game being streamed online via oua.tv.