The UOIT men’s hockey team defeated Queen’s 4-3 at the Campus Ice Centre Sunday to advance to the second round of the OUA playoffs for the first time in school history.
Jesse Stoughton led off the scoring in the first period which put momentum on a big high, but Queen’s scored on a power play to tie the game.
The second period was busy for both teams, the Gaels were on the board at 12:29 and not to be out done UOIT’s Ryan Doucette would slip one by goaltender Kevin Baillie one and a half minutes later. Before the period would come to and end Eric Ming scored to give Queen’s a 3-2 advantage.
In the third period, the arena was abuzz, the Ridgebacks came out flying and James Woodcroft scored the equalizer 2:30 into the period and the crowd exploded.
Danny Elser provided the heroics, scoring the winner with two minutes left in the third period.
UOIT wins the best-of-three series 2-1 to advance to the second round of the OUA playoffs.
The Ridgebacks will face UQTR, league regular season champions, in game one on Wednesday, Feb. 24, 7:30 p.m. at the Campus Ice Centre.
