The Ryerson Rams men's hockey team won for the fourth time in its last five games with a 5-2 victory over the visiting Brock Badgers on Thursday at George Bell Arena.
It looked bleak for the Rams early in the third period as the Badgers had just taken a 2-1 lead and were pressing for more. Brock had all the momentum until the six minute mark when the Rams scored two quick goals take control, eventually winning 5-2.
Ryerson took a 1-0 lead heading into the first intermission after a sloppy first frame. Midway through the first, Marcus Booth (Orillia, Ont.) picked up a loose puck after a failed Brock clearing attempt and wired a quick shot past Badgers goalie Mark Yetman.
The second period started with three consecutive power plays for the Rams. Ryerson failed to capitalize due to strong defence from Brock and a number of solid saves by Yetman (Mount Pearl, N.L.)
Brock gained the momentum after killing off its penalties and tied the game with six minutes left in the second. Steve Mullin (Guelph, Ont.) managed to beat Rams goalie Louie George from the top of the circles. Steve Duncan (Ancaster, Ont.) and Gary Friesen (Niagara on the Lake, Ont.) assisted on the Badgers goal.
The Badgers took the lead early in the third period after a defensive breakdown for Ryerson. Ryan Allen (Fort McMurray, Alta.) skated in unimpeded and held onto the puck, waiting out George, and beating him to the bottom corner. Vince Scott (Mississauga, Ont.) assisted on the goal which put the Badgers up 2-1 just two and a half minutes into the third.
Brock continued to press and almost increased its lead but George (Waterloo, Ont.), who had been solid all game, came up with a number of solid saves to keep the Rams in the game.
Ryerson, despite being on their heels, managed to tie the game at the 14 minute mark when Andrew Buck (Newmarket, Ont.), who was in the corner in Brock's end, fed Josh McNair (Sudbury, Ont.) who was all alone in front of the net. McNair made no mistake, beating Yetman low. Booth recorded his second point of the night with the second assist.
Just 25 seconds later the Rams took the lead when Kevin Krasnowski (Pickering, Ont.) streaked in on the left wing, pulled Yetman out of position with a wrap around before passing to Brent Small (Pickering, Ont.) who put the puck into the open net.
Brock had a great chance to tie the game when Ryerson took two penalties at the same time midway through the period. The Badgers had a full two-minute five on three power play and almost scored when a Badger forward had George down and but ringed his shot off the post. The Rams managed to kill the rest of the power play and Rams head coach Graham Wise praised his penalty killers, especially Krasnowski, as a big reason the Rams came away with the win.
After killing the five on three, the Rams controlled the play for the rest of the game, scoring two insurance markers in the last five minutes.
Ryerson's fourth goal came with four minutes left when Small fed Greg Payne (Thornhill, Ont.) with a lead pass for a breakaway. Yetman got a piece of Payne's shot but the puck bounced up in the air and eventually landed in the Badgers net. Krasnowksi also recorded an assist on the goal.
Ryerson iced the game just 30 seconds later when Alex Sharpe (Mount Forest, Ont.) netted a goal top shelf which was assisted by Cory Konecny (Stoney Point, Ont.) and Matt Schmermund (Calahoo, Alta.)
The shots were even at 29. One part of Ryerson's game that could have been improved was their power play. The Rams went scoreless in five chances with the man advantage but their work on the penalty kill made up for it with Brock going 0-7 with the man advantage.
Wise was impressed that his team didn't throw in the towel after falling behind in the third period.
"There were two good teams out there. We're a determined team," said Wise. "We've finally gotten over the hurdle where even if we get down we keep playing strong."
With the win, the Rams pull to .500 for the first time this season. Ryerson's record improves to 6-6-1 for 13 points, surpassing last season's total of five wins and 11 points. With the loss, Brock falls to 6-6-0.
Ryerson is in action this Saturday when they take on another OUA West opponent, the Guelph Gryphons, at George Bell Arena.
Ben Fisher, Sports Information Assistant
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Ryerson Rams Men's Hockey Recruit Videoby kk0523rye655 views
Damn i got to say really good play by play
CSIS25 1 year ago
Go BROCK GO!
Super7Countries 2 years ago
yea I love the video, only thing that bothered me was the awkward silence...add music or have some sounds from the rink. yaaay rams :)
moose12346 2 years ago
Something tells me this should be shorter with less dead air. Check out Sports Net for some inspiration. Great graphics work and GO RAMS!
buenobro 2 years ago