Garrett Kidd (Photo: Charles Fortin)
OTTAWA (Nov. 30, 2024) Less than 24 hours since their last matchup. The Ravens and Gee-Gees took to the ice within the confines of The Arena at TD Place for the annual Colonel By Classic. With the Ravens capturing the 2024 title in a thrilling 4-3 overtime win.
The Friday night matchup saw the Ravens extend their win streak to six on the east side of town. Saturday's matchup, a home game for the Ravens, had the feel of a neutral site game, with fans of both teams filling the home of Ottawa's OHL and PWHL teams. The game also marked both teams' last game before the winter break in the season.
The first period saw a feeling-out process between the rivals as they got used to the unusual dimensions that TD Place provided. Carrying over from Friday night's matchup was the physicality, to be expected between the crosstown rivals. Thirty minutes in penalties, including two 10-minute misconducts, filled the scoresheet in the first. When asked about the physicality that uOttawa played with, "They really took it to us last night and tonight," said Ravens head coach Mark Cavallin. "We had some bruised bodies but we still stuck to our game plan and the things we needed to do, so we feel like the physical play didn't affect us."
Both goalies stood tall through the first, allowing no goals on 19 shots.
The second was a major change of pace with both teams striking three times. Bradley Chenier, Andrew Belchamer, and Brendon Cavelle scored for the Gee-Gees while Oliver Castleman, Alex Johnston, and Gio Morneau found the back of the net for the Ravens. Carleton carried most of the play through the second and had the majority of offensive zone time and chances on Gee-Gees goaltender Franky Lapenna amassing 24 shots through two periods to Ottawa’s 16.
The third period had Ravens fans' collective heart rate through the roof. After an early goal, Reese Belton put the Ravens up 4-3. Back-to-back penalties from the Gee-Gees late in the third had the Ravens on a two-man advantage with only one minute left in regulation, cruising to a would-be victory. A harmless clear into the Carleton zone had Ravens goaltender Steven Bacovsky charging way out of his net to play the puck. Caught way out of position, Gee-Gees forward Andrew Belchamer was given a gift and made no mistake, tying the game with 56 seconds remaining in regulation, shocking the Ravens coaching staff, players and fans. After failing to score in the two-man advantage in the last minute of the game and into the first minute of overtime it looked like Ottawa was poised for an improbable win.
"When a goalie starts to go, you sometimes find yourself in no-mans-land," explained coach Cavallin of the error. "And then you could tell, he just dealt with himself while he was half way, and thought 'Oh, do I retreat or do I continue' and then he was stuck in the middle."
After back-and-forth chances for both teams, it was Gio Morneau’s second of the game that gave the Ravens the win and sent the fans at TD Place into a frenzy. When asked about the goal Morneau expressed his gratitude to be able to score a goal of such magnitude in front of friends and family. "It was definitely one of the better feelings I've felt in my life," said Morneau of the goal. "That was an awesome goal and to do it at the Colonel By as an overtime winner in front of friends and family, and the Ravens fans was a pretty unreal." Morneau also credited the chemistry with his linemates as a big reason he was able to receive the set-up pass from linemate Peter Amanatidis before slicing through the Gee-Gees defenders en route to his highlight reel game-winner.
The Ravens head into the break as one of the hottest teams in the OUA winning 7 in a row after a tough start to the season. When asked about their winning way Morneau mentioned how the team was feeling 'on top of the world'. The Ravens have work to do as they still sit 7th in the OUA East, but are now within striking distance of the teams above them. When asked about the winning streak Ravens captain Blake Allan credited the team for sticking to their system despite a tough start and credited their belief system amidst this hot streak.
Ravens forward Nick Mccarry’s three-assist game vaulted him into a tie for first in the OUA in assists with 16 on the season. The Ravens don’t suit up again until 2025 when they play a third game in a row against the Ottawa Gee-Gees on January 9th.
