October 5, 2007
MEN'S HOCKEY EAST DIVISION SEASON PREVIEW
HAMILTON, Ont. - As another Ontario University Athletics (OUA) men's hockey season gets set to take to the ice tonight, the east conference will see some new faces this season. We're Back! Are the words you hear when you go through the Carleton University Ice House! After a 33 year absence from the OUA and CIS, the Carleton University Ravens men's varsity ice hockey team will make its return to varsity status in 2007-2008.
Carleton will join the far east division, with the defending Queen's Cup champion UQTR Patriotes, as well as Concordia, McGill and Ottawa.
The east also sees the face of a new bench boss for the RMC Paladins in Adam Shell. A native of the Toronto area, Shell has served as assistant coach with McGill University the past two seasons. Shell also played four years of university hockey at McGill from 1999-2003.
FAR EAST DIVISION
CARLETON RAVENS
2006: Did not participate in OUA men's hockey
2007: Open on the road versus the Ottawa Gee-Gees, October 5 @ 7:00 pm
Led by Head Coach Fred Parker, a former Atlantic University Sport All-Star at St. Francis Xavier University and former Assistant Coach of the Kitchener Rangers (OHL) when he accepted Jennifer Brenning's offer to start the Ravens program, Carleton will be built around former members of the Ontario Hockey League and transfers from CIS and NCAA schools.
The Ravens are led by Andrew Gibbons, a first year Centre from Oshawa, Ontario who played for the Belleville Bulls (OHL), and Andrew Self, a first year arts major from Peterborough, Ontario who spent time with the Sudbury Wolves (OHL). Coach Parker is looking to both Gibbons and Self for leadership as the Ravens make their way through the 34-game OUA schedule for the first time.
Carleton is also sound in nets with Doug Jewer, a History Major from St. John's, Newfoundland and Jordan Wakefield, a graduate student from Spruce Grove, Alberta. These veteran net minders give Carleton a solid defense which will boast former Ottawa 67 standout and one of the most popular 67's over the past decade, Brodie Beard, an arts major from South Porcupine, Ontario.
The Ravens were built to compete right from the opening whistle. The goal is to qualify for the OUA post season and give the fans of Ottawa another quality ice hockey program to cheer for during the winter months!
CONCORDIA STINGERS
2006: 4th in far east division (8-16-3-1)
2007: Open at home versus the Brock Badgers, October 5 @ 7:30 pm
When the Concordia Stingers skate out onto the ice for the OUA men's hockey season-opener this Friday versus the Brock Badgers, head coach Kevin Figsby expects to see a more experienced and steady squad in action.
"I expect to be strong on the attack," explains Figsby. "We're improved on the defensive end and solid in nets. I expect consistent performances from the returning players and major contributions from the rookies."
With 20 returning players in the lineup the coach has reason to be optimistic. The only major loss from last season is defenceman Trevor Hawkins, the team captain who graduated and went to play professional in Australia.
The Stingers will rely heavily on third-year right wing Trevor Blanchard to provide the leadership on offence. He was Concordia's leading scorer last season with 14 goals and 17 assists for 31 points in 25 games. Figsby also expects great offensive output from Dmitri Toupikov, a right winger who joined the Stingers in January last season. He had four goals and three assists in 11 games. Another veteran with big responsibilities is fourth-year defenceman Ron Smith, who is expected to play well and lead the team on the back end.
One rookie to watch closely is left wing Nicolas Lafontaine, a six-foot-three, 200-pound power forward with three years of experience in the QMJHL. Last season he played with the Joliette L'Action of the Quebec junior AAA league, scoring 51 goals and adding 40 assists in 54 games. He will have an immediate impact on the Concordia power play.
Concordia is looking to improve on its 8-16-3-1, fourth-place finish in the OUA Far East conference last season, and Blanchard is confident the pieces are in place.
"We're a lot older up front and much more experienced," he said. "We're going to be more offensive because we have great depth and experience up front. I can't wait to start playing."
MCGILL REDMEN
2006: 2nd in far east division (15-7-5-1)
2007: Open at home versus the Guelph Gryphons, October 5, @ 7:30 pm
The McGill Redmen are poised to be one of the top OUA teams in their 132nd season of hockey. Head coach Martin Raymond is hoping for a lucky 13th season behind the bench as his squad features a school record 22 returnees.
All-Canadian goaltender Mathieu Poitras, the former CIS rookie of the year, is back for his senior year after posting a 9-6-3 record with a 2.41 goals-against average, a .903 save percentage and three shutouts. He will again be challenged by junior Jean-Michel Filiatrault (6-2-2, 2.07, .915, 2 SHO).
New team captain David Urquhart, an all-conference senior defenceman who had a 2-25-27 record with 93 PIMs in 28 contests, leads a solid cast of blueliners, include high-scoring junior Louis-Simon Allaire (10-12-22).
Up front, Shawn Shewchuk (25GP: 9-23-32) returns for a fifth season after leading the team with 9-23-32 in 25 games, including six PP goals, two shorthanded markers and a pair of game-winners. Also back is senior Eric L'Italien (25GP: 12-16-28, 6 PPG, 1 SHG, 1 HAT) and junior Sam Bloom (26GP: 12-13-25, 8 PPG).
Among the freshman to watch is Simon Courcelles (Lewiston, QMJHL), Guillaume Doucet (PEI, QMJHL), Simon Marcotte (St. Eustache, QJAAAHL) and Evan Vossen (LaRonge, SJHL).
OTTAWA GEE-GEES
2006: 3rd in far east division (11-12-3-2)
2007: Open at home versus the Carleton Ravens, October 5 @ 7:00 pm
The University of Ottawa men's hockey head coach Dave Leger does not expect any growing pains with cross-town Carleton days away from erasing a 33-year absence and returning to the OUA.
"They are going to make a huge statement this year," said Leger, who will christen the Gee-Gees 118th season with a Far East Division season opener Friday against the reborn Ravens. He can't wait.
"We have been talking about this weekend for a long time."
The Gee-Gees play the second game in the season-opening home-and-home series Saturday afternoon (3:00 p.m.) at Carleton. It might not be pretty.
Leger enters his fifth season with 18 returning players hoping to build on the momentum that saw a 2006 fourth-place team advance to the second playoff round.
Any surge this season, says Leger, cannot be furthered by his scoring-by-committee bunch without a price being paid. "It's going to be responsible, gritty, nasty hockey on a regular basis," said Leger, who will concentrate on working with forwards this season as former University of Moncton standout Jean-Benoit Deschamps oversees the defence.
The Gee-Gees went 1-3 in the preseason - two losses by one goal, including one shootout loss. Over the past eight seasons the Gee-Gees are 5-3 in their season-opening game and 4-3-1 in home openers.
The bottom line this season: while uOttawa works, there may be whistles.
"Ultimately break the will and wear down our opponents. That pure and simple is our goal," Leger said.
UQTR PATRIOTES
2006: 1st in far east division (17-5-3-3)
2007: Open at home versus the Ottawa Gee-Gees, October 12 @ 7:30 pm
The defending Queen's Cup Champions will return to the 2007-2008 season looking to their fire power from last season to lead the team back to the OUA Championship.
UQTR scoring standouts Thiery Poudrier (Victoriaville, QC) and Jonathan Boutin (La Pocatiere, QC) return to lead the forward pack. Poudrier finished his 2006-2007 season sixth in the nation in scoring with 20 goals, 22 assists for 42 points in 28 games played. Teammate Boutin wasn't far behind and ninth in the CIS with 12 goals, 29 assists for 41 points.
Between the pipes UQTR will have two young faces in net with rookie Nick Majeau (St. Esprit, QC) and second year, Sylvain Michaud (LeGardeur, QC). With the departure of senior netminder Dany Dallaire from last season, look for these two to fight for the starting position.
MID EAST DIVISION
QUEEN'S GOLDEN GAELS
2006: 2nd in mid east division (8-14-5-1)
2007: Open at home versus the Western Mustangs, October 6 @ 8:30 pm
Brett Gibson returns for his second season of being the head coach of the Golden Gaels and he is excited that this is his team since all the players are ones he recruited. Coach Gibson looks to bring a fast, exciting and hard working team to the rink each night to compete against the OUA'S best. Brett brings a wealth of playing and coaching experience to the Gaels, as he has both played and coached in the CIS. Joining Gibson behind the bench is Andrew Haussler, Shawn Bird, Tyler Reid and Dave Chant, as well as trainer Richard Rotenberg. Together the staff looks to compete for top spot in OUA Mid- East Division.
The Gaels return the East Conference's Rookie of the Year in goalie Ryan Gibb Scarborough, Ont. Gibb played more minutes and faced more shots than any other goaltender in the CIS and was key to Queen's playoff berth last season. Also returning and wearing the captain's 'C' this season is forward Jeff Ovens King City, Ont., who along with Pat Doyle Smiths Falls, Ont., Brady Olsen Enterprise, Ont. and Clint McCullough Aurora, Ont. constitute four of the five top point getters from last year's team. Coach Gibson feels Ovens is like having another coach on the ice with his great knowledge of the game.
Queen's had a fantastic recruiting season landing four standout rookies. Leading the way is goaltender Brady Morrison who played 74 games in the Ontario Hockey League over three years with the Ottawa 67s and the Kingston Frontenacs. Morrison will team with Ryan Gibb to form one of the most prolific duos in the CIS. On defence Coach Gibson is ecstatic with rookies Mike Bushby and Marcus Halcro. Bushby played with the Windsor Spitfires of the OHL while Halcro who played with the Nipawin Hawks of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League. Up front forward Jon Lawrence comes from the Hawks of the SJHL and is the inaugural winner of the Lou Jeffries Award.
The biggest challenge for this year's team will be the fact that the team will be playing in two different arenas and practicing in the early morning. Queen's home games in 2007-08 will be played at the Memorial Centre in Kingston on Saturday nights and the Strathcona Paper Centre in Napanee on the other nights. For Coach Gibson he truly believes that the obstacles being thrown at this team show him that he has the most dedicated kids that he has ever been around.
With the playoff experience gained from last season and the challenges this season presents the Gaels expect to challenge Toronto, Ryerson and RMC for Mid East division supremacy. The Gaels will be in tough within an Eastern Conference that has added the Carleton Ravens to the already deep list of teams.
RMC PALADINS
2006: 3rd in mid east division (7-16-4-1)
2007: Open at home versus the Western Mustangs, October 5 @ 7:30 pm
The Royal Military College Paladins look forward to a productive and successful 2007-08 season. Led by last year's leading scorer Paul Bradley, the RMC line up includes all-conference agitator and 4th year captain Luke Pierce, as well as the feisty and tenacious brother combination of Duaine and Matt Fetzner. The Paladins, who are looking to rebound from a season in which they missed the playoffs for the first time in 6 years, have added a rookie crop that includes Kurt Matthewson from Estevan, SK, Mitch Monette from Kingston, ON and Rob Graydon of Stirling, ON. These first year student-athletes are expected to contribute to the line up that is striving to once again qualify for the playoffs in the difficult OUA East.
As with all good teams, success starts in goal. The Paladins are fortunate to have two returning goalies in Matt Hartney and Adam Briggs. They are expected to share the load and provide the stability that a team looking to reshape its identity. Scoring improvement is necessary for the Paladins to be successful this season, and they are hopeful that a full season from 2nd year forwards Mike Soros and Jeff Oke will be the key. The Paladins are also counting on contributions from veterans Roman Srutek, Ian Miller and Josh Fudge. The defence should be bolstered by the return to the line up of Sean Dickson and a maturing Tyler Spice. The players and coaches are optimistic and believe that this team possesses the most depth RMC has had in many years.
RYERSON RAMS
2006: 4th in mid east division (2-23-2-1)
2007: Open at home versus the York Lions, October 18 @ 7:30 pm
Graham Wise returns behind the bench for the Rams this season, looking to improve upon the Rams two win season of 2007-2008.
Ryerson opened up their exhibition season last weekend at York University. The Rams faced-off against the home York Lions on Saturday Setpember 29, where they skated to a 5-3 victory, and fell to the Western Mustangs in their second match-up 7-3.
TORONTO VARSITY BLUES
2006: 1st in mid east division (18-9-1-0)
2007: Open on the road versus the Guelph Gryphons, October 12 @ 7:30 pm
The Blues will try for an eighth consecutive Mid-East title following an excellent 2006-2007 campaign (18-9-1). With 17 players eligible to return from the 2006-07 roster, the Blues are looking to challenge for the OUA conference championship and a berth in the 2008 CIS Championship in Moncton, NB.
With the departure of OUA East MVP, Ryan Grinnell, and team captain and OUA all-star, Simon Barg, the Blues will rely upon a veteran defensive corps as well as last year's leading goal point-getter Joe Rand and the team's leading scorer Anthony Pallotta for touch and finesse up front.
On the blue line, the Blues have four returning veterans: Kyle Martiniuk, Brendan Sherrard, Ed Snetsinger and Jesse Zulauf. Martiniuk is the only senior and will be expected to provide experience and a physical presence. Sherrard, will take over the leadership duties as team captain and will be relied upon in all situations. Offensively, third-year forwards Rand and Mark Heatley provide size and strength down the middle, while Pallotta's scoring prowess will once again be relied upon to lead this year's attack.
Andrew Kizito and Darrell Simich, both OHL defensemen, lead a tremendous group of young recruits that also include playmakers Craig McDonald (Lindsay Muskies) and Ferdonia State transfer, Joel Lenius.
In goal, top recruits Andrew Martin (Vaughn Vipers) and Russ Brownell (Owen Sound Attack) will battle Blues' veteran, Terrance Reid, for the crucial starting spot.
(With files from Sports Information Directors in the east division)
- OUA -
Michelle Church
Communications & Media Relations Coordinator
Ontario University Athletics
Tel: (905) 540-5156
Fax: (905) 574-2840
E-mail: michelle.church@oua.ca
Web: www.oua.ca
Carleton will join the far east division, with the defending Queen's Cup champion UQTR Patriotes, as well as Concordia, McGill and Ottawa.
The east also sees the face of a new bench boss for the RMC Paladins in Adam Shell. A native of the Toronto area, Shell has served as assistant coach with McGill University the past two seasons. Shell also played four years of university hockey at McGill from 1999-2003.
FAR EAST DIVISION
CARLETON RAVENS
2006: Did not participate in OUA men's hockey
2007: Open on the road versus the Ottawa Gee-Gees, October 5 @ 7:00 pm
Led by Head Coach Fred Parker, a former Atlantic University Sport All-Star at St. Francis Xavier University and former Assistant Coach of the Kitchener Rangers (OHL) when he accepted Jennifer Brenning's offer to start the Ravens program, Carleton will be built around former members of the Ontario Hockey League and transfers from CIS and NCAA schools.
The Ravens are led by Andrew Gibbons, a first year Centre from Oshawa, Ontario who played for the Belleville Bulls (OHL), and Andrew Self, a first year arts major from Peterborough, Ontario who spent time with the Sudbury Wolves (OHL). Coach Parker is looking to both Gibbons and Self for leadership as the Ravens make their way through the 34-game OUA schedule for the first time.
Carleton is also sound in nets with Doug Jewer, a History Major from St. John's, Newfoundland and Jordan Wakefield, a graduate student from Spruce Grove, Alberta. These veteran net minders give Carleton a solid defense which will boast former Ottawa 67 standout and one of the most popular 67's over the past decade, Brodie Beard, an arts major from South Porcupine, Ontario.
The Ravens were built to compete right from the opening whistle. The goal is to qualify for the OUA post season and give the fans of Ottawa another quality ice hockey program to cheer for during the winter months!
CONCORDIA STINGERS
2006: 4th in far east division (8-16-3-1)
2007: Open at home versus the Brock Badgers, October 5 @ 7:30 pm
When the Concordia Stingers skate out onto the ice for the OUA men's hockey season-opener this Friday versus the Brock Badgers, head coach Kevin Figsby expects to see a more experienced and steady squad in action.
"I expect to be strong on the attack," explains Figsby. "We're improved on the defensive end and solid in nets. I expect consistent performances from the returning players and major contributions from the rookies."
With 20 returning players in the lineup the coach has reason to be optimistic. The only major loss from last season is defenceman Trevor Hawkins, the team captain who graduated and went to play professional in Australia.
The Stingers will rely heavily on third-year right wing Trevor Blanchard to provide the leadership on offence. He was Concordia's leading scorer last season with 14 goals and 17 assists for 31 points in 25 games. Figsby also expects great offensive output from Dmitri Toupikov, a right winger who joined the Stingers in January last season. He had four goals and three assists in 11 games. Another veteran with big responsibilities is fourth-year defenceman Ron Smith, who is expected to play well and lead the team on the back end.
One rookie to watch closely is left wing Nicolas Lafontaine, a six-foot-three, 200-pound power forward with three years of experience in the QMJHL. Last season he played with the Joliette L'Action of the Quebec junior AAA league, scoring 51 goals and adding 40 assists in 54 games. He will have an immediate impact on the Concordia power play.
Concordia is looking to improve on its 8-16-3-1, fourth-place finish in the OUA Far East conference last season, and Blanchard is confident the pieces are in place.
"We're a lot older up front and much more experienced," he said. "We're going to be more offensive because we have great depth and experience up front. I can't wait to start playing."
MCGILL REDMEN
2006: 2nd in far east division (15-7-5-1)
2007: Open at home versus the Guelph Gryphons, October 5, @ 7:30 pm
The McGill Redmen are poised to be one of the top OUA teams in their 132nd season of hockey. Head coach Martin Raymond is hoping for a lucky 13th season behind the bench as his squad features a school record 22 returnees.
All-Canadian goaltender Mathieu Poitras, the former CIS rookie of the year, is back for his senior year after posting a 9-6-3 record with a 2.41 goals-against average, a .903 save percentage and three shutouts. He will again be challenged by junior Jean-Michel Filiatrault (6-2-2, 2.07, .915, 2 SHO).
New team captain David Urquhart, an all-conference senior defenceman who had a 2-25-27 record with 93 PIMs in 28 contests, leads a solid cast of blueliners, include high-scoring junior Louis-Simon Allaire (10-12-22).
Up front, Shawn Shewchuk (25GP: 9-23-32) returns for a fifth season after leading the team with 9-23-32 in 25 games, including six PP goals, two shorthanded markers and a pair of game-winners. Also back is senior Eric L'Italien (25GP: 12-16-28, 6 PPG, 1 SHG, 1 HAT) and junior Sam Bloom (26GP: 12-13-25, 8 PPG).
Among the freshman to watch is Simon Courcelles (Lewiston, QMJHL), Guillaume Doucet (PEI, QMJHL), Simon Marcotte (St. Eustache, QJAAAHL) and Evan Vossen (LaRonge, SJHL).
OTTAWA GEE-GEES
2006: 3rd in far east division (11-12-3-2)
2007: Open at home versus the Carleton Ravens, October 5 @ 7:00 pm
The University of Ottawa men's hockey head coach Dave Leger does not expect any growing pains with cross-town Carleton days away from erasing a 33-year absence and returning to the OUA.
"They are going to make a huge statement this year," said Leger, who will christen the Gee-Gees 118th season with a Far East Division season opener Friday against the reborn Ravens. He can't wait.
"We have been talking about this weekend for a long time."
The Gee-Gees play the second game in the season-opening home-and-home series Saturday afternoon (3:00 p.m.) at Carleton. It might not be pretty.
Leger enters his fifth season with 18 returning players hoping to build on the momentum that saw a 2006 fourth-place team advance to the second playoff round.
Any surge this season, says Leger, cannot be furthered by his scoring-by-committee bunch without a price being paid. "It's going to be responsible, gritty, nasty hockey on a regular basis," said Leger, who will concentrate on working with forwards this season as former University of Moncton standout Jean-Benoit Deschamps oversees the defence.
The Gee-Gees went 1-3 in the preseason - two losses by one goal, including one shootout loss. Over the past eight seasons the Gee-Gees are 5-3 in their season-opening game and 4-3-1 in home openers.
The bottom line this season: while uOttawa works, there may be whistles.
"Ultimately break the will and wear down our opponents. That pure and simple is our goal," Leger said.
UQTR PATRIOTES
2006: 1st in far east division (17-5-3-3)
2007: Open at home versus the Ottawa Gee-Gees, October 12 @ 7:30 pm
The defending Queen's Cup Champions will return to the 2007-2008 season looking to their fire power from last season to lead the team back to the OUA Championship.
UQTR scoring standouts Thiery Poudrier (Victoriaville, QC) and Jonathan Boutin (La Pocatiere, QC) return to lead the forward pack. Poudrier finished his 2006-2007 season sixth in the nation in scoring with 20 goals, 22 assists for 42 points in 28 games played. Teammate Boutin wasn't far behind and ninth in the CIS with 12 goals, 29 assists for 41 points.
Between the pipes UQTR will have two young faces in net with rookie Nick Majeau (St. Esprit, QC) and second year, Sylvain Michaud (LeGardeur, QC). With the departure of senior netminder Dany Dallaire from last season, look for these two to fight for the starting position.
MID EAST DIVISION
QUEEN'S GOLDEN GAELS
2006: 2nd in mid east division (8-14-5-1)
2007: Open at home versus the Western Mustangs, October 6 @ 8:30 pm
Brett Gibson returns for his second season of being the head coach of the Golden Gaels and he is excited that this is his team since all the players are ones he recruited. Coach Gibson looks to bring a fast, exciting and hard working team to the rink each night to compete against the OUA'S best. Brett brings a wealth of playing and coaching experience to the Gaels, as he has both played and coached in the CIS. Joining Gibson behind the bench is Andrew Haussler, Shawn Bird, Tyler Reid and Dave Chant, as well as trainer Richard Rotenberg. Together the staff looks to compete for top spot in OUA Mid- East Division.
The Gaels return the East Conference's Rookie of the Year in goalie Ryan Gibb Scarborough, Ont. Gibb played more minutes and faced more shots than any other goaltender in the CIS and was key to Queen's playoff berth last season. Also returning and wearing the captain's 'C' this season is forward Jeff Ovens King City, Ont., who along with Pat Doyle Smiths Falls, Ont., Brady Olsen Enterprise, Ont. and Clint McCullough Aurora, Ont. constitute four of the five top point getters from last year's team. Coach Gibson feels Ovens is like having another coach on the ice with his great knowledge of the game.
Queen's had a fantastic recruiting season landing four standout rookies. Leading the way is goaltender Brady Morrison who played 74 games in the Ontario Hockey League over three years with the Ottawa 67s and the Kingston Frontenacs. Morrison will team with Ryan Gibb to form one of the most prolific duos in the CIS. On defence Coach Gibson is ecstatic with rookies Mike Bushby and Marcus Halcro. Bushby played with the Windsor Spitfires of the OHL while Halcro who played with the Nipawin Hawks of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League. Up front forward Jon Lawrence comes from the Hawks of the SJHL and is the inaugural winner of the Lou Jeffries Award.
The biggest challenge for this year's team will be the fact that the team will be playing in two different arenas and practicing in the early morning. Queen's home games in 2007-08 will be played at the Memorial Centre in Kingston on Saturday nights and the Strathcona Paper Centre in Napanee on the other nights. For Coach Gibson he truly believes that the obstacles being thrown at this team show him that he has the most dedicated kids that he has ever been around.
With the playoff experience gained from last season and the challenges this season presents the Gaels expect to challenge Toronto, Ryerson and RMC for Mid East division supremacy. The Gaels will be in tough within an Eastern Conference that has added the Carleton Ravens to the already deep list of teams.
RMC PALADINS
2006: 3rd in mid east division (7-16-4-1)
2007: Open at home versus the Western Mustangs, October 5 @ 7:30 pm
The Royal Military College Paladins look forward to a productive and successful 2007-08 season. Led by last year's leading scorer Paul Bradley, the RMC line up includes all-conference agitator and 4th year captain Luke Pierce, as well as the feisty and tenacious brother combination of Duaine and Matt Fetzner. The Paladins, who are looking to rebound from a season in which they missed the playoffs for the first time in 6 years, have added a rookie crop that includes Kurt Matthewson from Estevan, SK, Mitch Monette from Kingston, ON and Rob Graydon of Stirling, ON. These first year student-athletes are expected to contribute to the line up that is striving to once again qualify for the playoffs in the difficult OUA East.
As with all good teams, success starts in goal. The Paladins are fortunate to have two returning goalies in Matt Hartney and Adam Briggs. They are expected to share the load and provide the stability that a team looking to reshape its identity. Scoring improvement is necessary for the Paladins to be successful this season, and they are hopeful that a full season from 2nd year forwards Mike Soros and Jeff Oke will be the key. The Paladins are also counting on contributions from veterans Roman Srutek, Ian Miller and Josh Fudge. The defence should be bolstered by the return to the line up of Sean Dickson and a maturing Tyler Spice. The players and coaches are optimistic and believe that this team possesses the most depth RMC has had in many years.
RYERSON RAMS
2006: 4th in mid east division (2-23-2-1)
2007: Open at home versus the York Lions, October 18 @ 7:30 pm
Graham Wise returns behind the bench for the Rams this season, looking to improve upon the Rams two win season of 2007-2008.
Ryerson opened up their exhibition season last weekend at York University. The Rams faced-off against the home York Lions on Saturday Setpember 29, where they skated to a 5-3 victory, and fell to the Western Mustangs in their second match-up 7-3.
TORONTO VARSITY BLUES
2006: 1st in mid east division (18-9-1-0)
2007: Open on the road versus the Guelph Gryphons, October 12 @ 7:30 pm
The Blues will try for an eighth consecutive Mid-East title following an excellent 2006-2007 campaign (18-9-1). With 17 players eligible to return from the 2006-07 roster, the Blues are looking to challenge for the OUA conference championship and a berth in the 2008 CIS Championship in Moncton, NB.
With the departure of OUA East MVP, Ryan Grinnell, and team captain and OUA all-star, Simon Barg, the Blues will rely upon a veteran defensive corps as well as last year's leading goal point-getter Joe Rand and the team's leading scorer Anthony Pallotta for touch and finesse up front.
On the blue line, the Blues have four returning veterans: Kyle Martiniuk, Brendan Sherrard, Ed Snetsinger and Jesse Zulauf. Martiniuk is the only senior and will be expected to provide experience and a physical presence. Sherrard, will take over the leadership duties as team captain and will be relied upon in all situations. Offensively, third-year forwards Rand and Mark Heatley provide size and strength down the middle, while Pallotta's scoring prowess will once again be relied upon to lead this year's attack.
Andrew Kizito and Darrell Simich, both OHL defensemen, lead a tremendous group of young recruits that also include playmakers Craig McDonald (Lindsay Muskies) and Ferdonia State transfer, Joel Lenius.
In goal, top recruits Andrew Martin (Vaughn Vipers) and Russ Brownell (Owen Sound Attack) will battle Blues' veteran, Terrance Reid, for the crucial starting spot.
(With files from Sports Information Directors in the east division)
- OUA -
Michelle Church
Communications & Media Relations Coordinator
Ontario University Athletics
Tel: (905) 540-5156
Fax: (905) 574-2840
E-mail: michelle.church@oua.ca
Web: www.oua.ca
