This article first appeared on RyersonRams.ca on Feb. 15, 2014.
Link: http://www.ryersonrams.ca/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_LANG=C&DB_OEM_ID=22300&ATCLID=209407879
TORONTO — The Ryerson Rams are heading into the playoffs on a winning note after a 4-3 victory over the Windsor Lancers on Saturday afternoon.
With the win, Ryerson (17-11-0) finishes the regular season with a program-high in wins and also clinches third place in the OUA West. Because Ryerson has defeated Windsor (17-11-0) twice this year, they win the tie-breaker in the standings.
“Today, I always say going into playoffs it is important you go in on a high, get some confidence, so coming back today and winning that game in the third, give full credit to our players,” Graham Wise, Ryerson’s head coach, said after the game.
Ryerson started the scoring almost half way through the first period when defenceman Kent McPherson (Stratford, Ont.) joined the rush and put one past Windsor starting goaltender Parker Van Buskirk.
The score would remain 1-0 for almost 20 minutes until Daniel Lombardi(Richmond Hill, Ont.) would take a pass off the boards from Dustin Alcock (Hamilton, Ont.), break in all alone, and score a highlight reel goal to make it 2-0.
Windsor would eventually get on the board at 13:42 of the middle frame after multiple Ryerson penalties, and Kenny Bradford would pot his 10th goal of the season.
Almost two minutes later, Spencer Pommells would get another on the powerplay and it was a tie hockey game.
Before the end of the second, Curtis Longland would get one past Ryerson’s Troy Passingham (Mississauga, Ont.) and Windsor would lead 3-2 at the intermission.
For the better part of the third period, Windsor’s defence stood tall, not allowing Ryerson to get to the net and create opportunites. Finally, it was Steve Taylor (Sudbury, Ont.) banging one home in front of the net for his first of the season and the game was once again tied.
It would be a story book ending to the game as graduating Ram Andrew Buck (Newmarket, Ont.) would score his seventh of the season with just over three minutes to go to seal a Rams win.
Both Buck and Alcock were honoured before the start of the game as they have reached the end of their eligibility.
“It’s pretty surreal at this point that it’s been five years, but to get the win and end the year on that kind of fashion is pretty amazing and it puts a pretty good feeling in the room heading into next week,” Buck said.
Ryerson will now wait to see who they face in the playoffs with it being either the Toronto Varsity Blues or Brock Badgers. The start of the OUA West quarter-final best of three series has yet to be determined.
“Who ever it is, Toronto or Brock, it’s going to be a good series and if we play good hockey like we have the last couple games then we should be good,” Buck said.