The University of Toronto Varsity Blues men's hockey team defeated the Waterloo Warriors 3-2 on Saturday (Nov. 7) afternoon at Varsity Arena.
After the two sides battled back and forth in the first period, Waterloo scored the opening goal with 19 seconds left in the period as Jaden Goldie found the back of the net with Nate Bierd and Alex Power drawing assists. Despite trailing, U of T continued to battle as fourth-year goalie Jordan Fairlie and Waterloo's Matt Onuska traded saves. Midway through the period, first-year forward Kent Moors scored his first OUA goal as second-year forward Ryan Evenhuis and third-year forward Ryan Gillespie drew the assists.
With the game level at one in the third period, both teams ramped up the physicality in search of a go-ahead goal. Less than four minutes into the final 20 minutes of play, fourth-year forward Rylee Hlusiak would get a grade-A scoring chance and as the Blues sustained pressure in the offensive zone, third-year forward Dylan Wightman set up second-year forward Alexander Dimitriadis to give U of T their first lead of the game.
Waterloo was able to respond near the halfway point of the third period with a goal by Caden Kelly. Toronto played with the resilience that they showed all game, regaining the lead less than three minutes later as Wightman fired home the game-winning goal in front of the net as second-year defenceman David Brandes drew the assist and Dimitriadis got on the scoresheet for the second time this afternoon.
From there, U of T played a stout defensive game, putting their bodies on the line lead by some of Fairlie's best of his 29 saves and strong defensive played from fourth-year defencemen Aiden Reeves and Owen Luik, holding on to earn the Blue and White's fifth win of the season.
The Blues are back in action on Friday (Nov. 13) night when they travel to Thunder Bay to take on the Lakehead Thunderwolves. Puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m., and the game will be streamed live on
oua.tv.
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