The University of Toronto Varsity Blues men's hockey team defeated the Laurier Golden Hawks 5-4 in overtime on Thursday (Oct. 22) night at Varsity Arena.
Second-year forward Ryan Watt led the way with a two-goal performance, opening the scoring in the first period before firing home the overtime winner to seal the victory for the Blue and White.
Wasting little time following Watt's goal less than three minutes into the game, finished off fellow second-year forward Alexander Dimitriadis' shot that trickled past Laurier's Andrew Ness. The Golden Hawks had a breakthrough late in the period but a good defensive stick by second-year defenceman Isaiah Peters helped hold U of T's 1-0 lead heading into the first intermission.
The Golden Hawks responded in the second period with Callum Chisholm finding the back of the net. The Blues were quick to answer as captain Aiden Reeves restored the lead 42 seconds later. Third-year forward Cooper Way and first-year forward Massimo Fazio drew assists on the Kinesiology student from St. George, B.C., second goal in as many games. Laurier didn't back down with a late goal from Bryce Sutherland leveled the score after two periods of play.
With a dog fight underway between two OUA West opponents, intensity rose as the two sides battled to take control of the game. Third-year forward Sean Clarke made quick work in pulling U of T ahead finishing off a pass from Fazio for his third assist of the game. Laurier continued to punch back as Justin O'Donnell's goal midway through the frame brought the game level again. Third-year forward Ryan Gillespie would once again bring the game in Toronto's favour as he stepped up and finished off fourth-year defenceman Zack Terry's pass to make it a 4-3 game. The Golden Hawks found an equalizer courtesy of Alec McDonald as the game would go to overtime deadlocked a four goals apiece.
Overtime was back-and-forth with Ness and first-year Blues netminder Eric Young trading saves in their respective creases. Young's efforts didn't go unnoticed with a poke check on a scoring chance and a big pad save to rob Travis Verbeek on a breakaway. Picking up the puck in the defensive zone was fourth-year forward Brandon Santa Juana, taking the puck up the ice he dished a pass to Watt, firing home the overtime winner and sending the Varsity Arena crowd home happy.
Up next, the Blues turn their attention to their downtown Toronto rivals, the TMU Bold when they welcome them to Varsity Arena on Friday (Oct. 23) night. Puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m., with tickets available at
varsityblues.ca/tickets. The game will also be live streamed on
oua.tv.
Â
