Photo by Marc Lafleur
OTTAWA – After nearly 2 years of waiting, Carleton hockey fans were welcomed back to the Ice House for a sold-out home-opener against the McGill Redbirds which the Ravens took 2-0 in front of the home crowd.
The first period brought fast-paced action with lots of scoring chances and big hits as Carleton welcomed their fans back into the rink. After some early momentum from the Ravens, the Redbirds spent several shifts in the Ravens’ zone. Carleton Goaltender Mark Grametbauer (Halifax, N.S.) made a number of terrific saves while the Ravens were shorthanded after taking a minor penalty, and he held the game scoreless after the first period despite McGill outshooting Carleton by 14-6.
After a slow first period on their heels, the Ravens were flying out of the gate to start the second period. Carleton was beating the McGill Redbirds to every loose puck and did a great job of using their physicality to win free pucks in the offensive zone. After Kaleb Bulych took a high stick to the face drawing a powerplay for Carleton, the Ravens went right to work. Oliver Castleman held up the play nicely waiting for his streaking centreman Aaron Boyd (Winnipeg, Man.) who wired a wrist-shot just below the goaltender’s glove to put Carleton up 1-0. The Ravens continued their strong play into the second intermission carrying their one-goal lead into the third.
In the third, the Ravens did a solid job coming together to kill off a Redbirds powerplay to protect the 1-0 lead. Moments later, Aaron Boyd took a great pass in-stride and finished off a breakaway on the high-glove side to extend the Carleton lead to two. The Ravens would hang on late, and come away with the 2-0 win, their first regulation win of the season.
“We did not get off to our best start, we definitely did not have our legs early, but I’m always happy with the two points,” coach Shaun Van Allen said after the game. “We’re in what I believe is the toughest division in U Sports and we need to find that consistency because we’re going to be facing tough competition every single night,” Van Allen added post-game.
The Carleton men’s hockey team gets right back to action tomorrow night at the Ice House where they take on the Concordia Stingers. Tickets are going quickly, so get yours before they are all sold out at goravens.ca/tickets. Can’t make it tomorrow? The Ravens will be back at the Ice House on Thursday Nov. 18 to take on the U Ottawa Gee-Gees in a matchup you won’t want to miss!
