This article was first published on RyersonRams.ca on Oct. 17, 2013.
Link: http://www.ryersonrams.ca/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_LANG=C&DB_OEM_ID=22300&ATCLID=209285315
TORONTO – Defence has been hard to come by for the Ryerson Rams in the past two games, giving up 13 goals, including seven on Wednesday night in a 7-3 loss against the Toronto Varsity Blues.
The Rams (2-1), were playing on the road for the first time this season, and struggled against their downtown rivals.
Things started out well for Ryerson, scoring twice in the first six minutes of the game, both on special teams. Kent McPherson (Stratford, Ont.) scored shorthanded and just over two minutes later the dominant line of Dominic Alberga (Maple, Ont.), Michael Fine (Toronto) and Jamie Wise (Stoufville, Ont.) connected, with Alberga netting his fourth goal of the year.
That early two-goal lead did not last with Toronto (2-1) answering with four straight goals, three of those coming in the first period.
Toronto’s Dylan Heide was named the game’s first star after scoring two powerplay goals.
Powerplay goals were the story of the game. Toronto scored four goals on the man-advantage on eight opportunities and really broke the game open in the second period and into the third. Three straight powerplay goals by the Varsity Blues made their lead impossible to come back from.
Ryerson’s penalty kill now ranks as the worst in the CIS at 58.8 per cent.
Steve Gleeson (Toronto) made his first start of the year in net for Ryerson and was chased just 11 minutes into the game. Gleeson allowed three Toronto goals in a four minute span, forcing head coach Graham Wise to replace him with Troy Passingham (Mississauga, Ont.). Passingham faired out a bit better, making 32 saves but allowed four goals.
Brett Willows was outstanding between the pipes for Toronto, facing 53 shots and stopping 50 to improve his record to 2-0 on the season. Willows save percentage now stands at .943.
NOTES
– Jamie Wise recorded an assist for Ryerson to push his point streak to three games.
– Robert Visca (Everett, Ont.) scored his first goal of the season Wednesday night while also chipping in with an assist.
– Ryerson will take a break from league play this weekend as they travel to Princeton, New Jersey for a pair of games. The Rams return to OUA action on Oct. 24 at home against the Guelph Gryphons. Game time at the Mattamy Athletic Centre is 7:30 p.m.