The Tribute Community Centre (TCC) played host to the second annual Carriage Cup hockey game on Thursday, Jan. 16. The game featured the Ontario Tech Ridgebacks and the Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) Bold, with TMU securing a 3-1 victory.
The lone Ridgebacks goal came courtesy of Jeremy Michaud in the second period, which was followed by uproar from a rowdy TCC crowd. However, TMU scored two goals in the third period, including an empty-netter in the dying seconds to seal the victory.
Ridgebacks players were treated to a much larger crowd than they are used to, as the TCC holds more than 6,000 fans for a hockey event – much more than their usual venue, the Campus Ice Centre.
Cullen McLean, a standout player for the Ridgebacks, was pleased with the turnout despite a tough result. “We are used to getting like a hundred fans, and that’s pretty good.” McLean compared it to his junior hockey career, where he played with the Soo Greyhounds of the OHL. “It pumps you up, it’s just (too bad) we couldn’t get the (win) today,” McLean said.
According to Ontario Tech, attendance at this year’s Carriage Cup game was upwards of 1,700 fans.
Ridgebacks forward and McLean’s linemate, Andrew Sariyuth, noted the energy fans bring to a game. “You definitely feel the energy compared to normal. You hear the ‘oos’ and the ‘ahs’ when something happens,” Sariyuth said. “You definitely feel like you feed off it.”
The Carriage Cup is a unique experience for Ridgebacks players, especially newcomers to the organization. “They’re looking forward to being out in front of the big spotlight, and the big crowd,” said Curtis Hodgins, the Ridgebacks head coach. “It’s one of those experiences we use for our recruiting, and maybe even one of the reasons they came here.”
This year’s Ridgebacks roster features a strong mix of newcomers and returning veterans who played in last year’s 4-1 victory in the inaugural Carriage Cup matchup against the York Lions.
The Ridgebacks will aim to bounce back from this loss with a game on Saturday, Jan. 18, against the RMC Paladins in Kingston.