Photo by Marc Lafleur
The Carleton Ravens men’s hockey team got off to a great start in their season opener taking down their archrivals the University of Ottawa Gee-Gees 3-2 in a game that required overtime.
The opening period of the 2021-2022 season saw no goals as the two Ottawa-based teams locked in a tight-checking, physical battle. Andrew Jarvis (Morrisburg, Ont.) played a particularly strong period for the Ravens where he made several good stretch-passes, and blocked numerous shots. Nobody was shy to finish their hits and welcome the newcomers on the ice to the first crosstown rivalry meeting of the season. The two teams will see one another four more times this season.
In the second, the Ravens finally opened up this game with two quick goals to jump out 2-0 before the midway point of the period. Oliver Castleman (Ottawa, Ont.) ripped a wrist shot that beat the uOttawa goaltender on the glove side as Aaron Boyd (Winnipeg, Man.) provided a screen in front. Three minutes later, Parker Aucoin (Sturgeon County, Alta.) jammed in a rebound to extend Carleton’s lead to 2-0, a lead that they would carry into the second intermission.
The Gee-Gees fought back valiantly from the opening puck drop of the final frame. They forechecked especially well, which caused problems for the Carleton breakout. After Nick Bowman cut the lead to one, Liam Markhauser sent a shot on goal that beat Carleton goaltender Mark Grametbauer (Halifax, N.S.) on the glove side, tying the game 2-2 late in the third.
“We had a tough time getting out of our end in the third. Full credit to uOttawa for really pushing hard in the last 20 minutes,” Carleton head coach Shaun Van Allen said post-game.
In overtime, Parker Aucoin found a streaking Aaron Boyd setting up a chance that Boyd finished over the blocker of the Gee-Gees goaltender, securing the win and the two points for Carleton.
“Really happy with our performance tonight. Anytime you can go on the road against a good team and pick up the win you’re happy,” Van Allen added.
The Ravens will travel to Trois-Rivières to take on the UQTR Patriotes Sunday, Nov. 4 before returning home on Nov. 12 to take on the McGill RedBirds. Tickets for the Ravens’ home opener are available now. Come out and support the men’s hockey team as they play in front of fans at the Ice House for the first time in nearly two years!
