Ravens Sports Information (Photo: Marc Lafleur / Marc Lafleur Photography)
OTTAWA - For the second straight game, Mark Grametbauer posted a shutout as the Carleton Ravens swept the Ontario Tech Ridgebacks with a pair of 4-0 victories. With the win, the Ravens advance to the OUA East Semifinals where they will face the UQTR Patriotes.
Grametbauer was the star for the Ravens on Saturday night, making forty saves including a number in the games opening minutes as the Ravens found their footing against the aggressive forecheck of the Ridgebacks.
"If I don't start with our goaltender, I'm crazy" expressed Ravens head coach Shawn Van Allen. "He was outstanding, save-after-save, he really helped his teammates out there by playing the puck a lot and he was as locked in as I've ever seen a goaltender in my entire life."
Against what is arguably the hardest-working team in the league, Grametbauer's star shone bright, but as the goalie admitted it wasn't without the help of his teammates. "I have to give it to the guys, it was a great team effort," said Grametbauer postgame. "I can't score goals, and they took care of that with four each game, it really made my job easier."
The Ravens' offence was spread across the lineup, with four different goal scorers factoring in the victory. After Kaleb Bulych (Yorkton, Sask.) opened the scoring in the first, a beautiful shorthanded goal by Brogan O'Brien (Prince George, BC) sealed the Ridgebacks' fate putting the Ravens up by two midway through the second.
Despite throwing everything they could at the Ravens in the third, Ontario Tech couldn't beat Grametbauer while Lukash Matthews and Oliver Castleman added goals for Carleton as they advanced to the second round.
Carleton will now square off with a familiar foe in the UQTR Patriotes with a chance to advance to the OUA East Finals. "It's only going to get harder from here," recognized coach Van Allen. "They're the defending champs for a reason, we're going to have our hands full, they are a really good team."
Tickets for round 2, game 2 will be on sale soon!
