MONTREAL – They came, they saw, they conquered. For the first time in program history the University of Ontario Institute of Technology men's hockey team waltzed into McConnell Arena, Saturday, and came away with a victory, surprising the McGill Redmen 5-2 in their OUA home opener.

It was only the second lifetime victory in 11 games against McGill and the first ever at McConnell, for the upstart UOIT Ridgebacks, which joined the league in 2008, and have started OUA conference play with a pair of wins, after a 3-0 road shutout in Ottawa on Friday.
 
The five goals conceded by McGill, including an empty-netter, was the most allowed in regulation time by the Redmen at home -- excluding a 5-4 overtime shootout loss to UQTR last December -- since a 5-2 setback to Laurentian on Oct. 18, 2014. In that contest, the Voyageurs tallied two empty-net markers.

The biggest factor in the game came on the power-play, where UOIT went 2-for-6 and McGill failed to score on seven attempts, including three consecutive chances in the first period.The Ridgebacks actually registered the first 14 shots on net early on but McGil rallied to finish with a 39-30 advantage.

With a fortified roster that includes six OHL grads and two NCAA transfers, the Ridgebacks displayed more speed in their transition from defence to offence and it paid off against the Redmen. They jumped into a quick 2-0 lead and survived two McGill goals in the second-period, then headed into the final stanza where they outscored the Redmen 3-0.

Connor Jarvis of Port Union, Ont., potted a power play marker at 5:03 to open the scoring for UOIT. Three minutes later, Cameron Yuill of Wellington, Ont., made it 2-0, deflecting a point-shot on another power-play. In the second period, Nate Mitton appeared to put the Ridgebacks in front 3-0 but after a brief discussion, the referees waved off the goal.

McGill capitaized quickly with Patrick Delisle-Houde of Quebec City and rookie Alexandre Sills of Amos, Que., scoring back-to-back at 7:03 and 11:10, to even the score at 2-2.
 
At 3:32 of the third period, Mike Robinson of Stouffville, Ont., scored from a bad angle to put the Ridgebacks back in front 3-2.  Six minutes later, they made it 4-2 when Danny Elser of Hopewell Junction, N.Y., connected.

Just 23 seconds later, it was McGill's turn to have a goal disallowed.  Forward Samuel Hodhod appeared to have redirected a waist-high pass from Guillaume Gauthier. After the referee emphatically signalled a goal, the officials discussed the play and changed the call, ruling that Hodhod's stick was too high.
 
The Redmen had one more chance with a late power-play and pulled netminder Jacob Gervais-Chouinard for a two-man advantage but Montreal native Malik Johnson sealed the deal for UOIT with a shorthanded empty-net goal.

Goaltender Tyson Teichmann of Belleville, Ont., made 37 saves for his first win as a Ridgeback, while Gervais-Chouinard, a senior from Sherbrooke, Que., suffered the loss stopping 25 shots.
 
UOIT (2-0) will host Laurentian (0-2) on Oct. 14 while McGill (1-1) will host the Concordia Stingers, who are off to a 2-0 start after sweeping Nipissing on the road 6-0 and 3-1.

REDMEN RAP: McGill sophomore Christophe Lalonde was injured during a second-period power-play when he was hit by a puck from the point which appeared to strike the back of his helmet while lying on the ice. He quickly rushed off the ice holding his ear and did not return... The OUA Hockey Season Preview E-magazine, featuring brief team-by-team outlooks, is now available at this link... In his post-game comments a day after a lopsided preseason loss to the Canadiens, McGill grad and Maple Leafs head coach Mike Babcock quipped that the Montreal smoked meat sandwich he had was about the only worthwhile thing from the trip. SEE VIDEO.
 
LINK TO COMPLETE BOXSCORE

SCORING SUMMARY
UOIT 5 (ENG) at McGill 2
(Saturday, October 8, 2016 - McConnell Arena)

GOALS BY PERIOD
UOIT 2-0-3 -- 5
McGill 0-2-0 -- 2

1st Period-
1, UOIT, Jarvis 1 (Johnson, Yuill), 5:03 (PP).
2, UOIT, Yuill 1 (Logan, Robinson), 8:23.

Penalties-Gauthier Mcg (interference), 3:29; Verrier Mcg (high sticking), 5:03; Chenevert Mcg (slashing), 6:20; Daly Uoit (slashing), 12:12; Locke Uoit (roughing), 15:50; Logan Uoit (slashing), 16:34; Yuill Uoit (roughing), 17:39.

2nd Period-
3, McGill, Delisle-Houde 2 (Halbert, Verrier), 7:03.
4, McGill, Sills 1 (Verrier, Delisle-Houde), 11:10.

Penalties-Delisle-Houde Mcg (high sticking), 4:51; Shaw Uoit (tripping), 8:10; Jarvis Uoit (roughing), 11:31; Logan Uoit (tripping), 11:31; Chenevert Mcg (interference), 11:31; Gamelin Mcg (roughing), 11:31; Delisle-Houde Mcg (slashing), 13:16.

3rd Period-
5, UOIT, Robinson 2 (Latina), 3:32.
6, UOIT, Elser 3 (Blasko, Locke), 10:59 (PP).
7, UOIT, Johnson 1 (Shaw), 19:24 (EN/SH).

Penalties-Johnson Uoit (slashing), 5:34; Pompei Mcg (slashing), 9:55; Bennett Uoit (roughing), 18:30; Mayea Uoit (roughing), 20:00; Mitton Uoit (roughing), 20:00; Bois Mcg (roughing), 20:00; Hodhod Mcg (roughing), 20:00.

Shots on Goal-
UOIT 15-8-7 -- 30.
McGill 14-16-9 -- 39.

Power Play Opportunities-
UOIT 2 / 6;
McGill 0 / 7 (plus one SHG against).

Goalies-
UOIT,
Tyson Teichmann (W, 1-0-0, 39 shots-37 saves; 60:00).

McGill,
Jacob Gervais-Chouinard (L, 0-1-0, 29 shots-25 saves; 57:57).
Empty-net (1GA, 2:03)

Attendance: 157
Start: 7:02 PM
End: 9:11 PM
Length: 2:09

Referees-Nicolas Comtois, Alexandre Cote.
Linesmen-Maxime Mongeon, Guillaume Brunelle.

MOLSON CUP THREE STARS
1. UOIT - 19 Mike Robinson
2. MCG - 28 Patrick Delisle-Houde
3. UOIT - 24 Cameron Yuill


SOURCE:
 
Earl Zukerman
Communications Officer
Athletics & Recreation
McGill University
514-398-7012 (Tel.)
m.athletics.mcgill.ca (mobile website)
earl.zukerman@mcgill.ca
 
SEE COMPLETE McGILL VARSITY SCHEDULE ONLINE AT:
www.mcgillathletics.ca/calendar.aspx