The Ryerson Rams men’s hockey team couldn’t capitalize on numerous power-play chances in a 3-2 loss to the Concordia Stingers on Sept. 28 at the Mattamy Athletic Centre (MAC).
The Rams defeated the Stingers 8-4 the day before, but missed opportunities played a key part in Ryerson’s loss on Saturday afternoon.
An undisciplined game by both teams saw 30 penalty minutes in total. The game was a special teams battle the whole night. Ryerson had seven power-play opportunities but wasn’t able to generate a goal from one.
The Stingers broke the deadlock with just under seven minutes remaining in the first period when Rams winger Matt Santos turned the puck over to Concordia forward Tyler Hylland in the neutral zone. Hylland walked in on Ram’s goalie Garret Forrest and snuck a short-handed goal through the pads to give the Stingers the upper hand.
The second period saw the Rams finally get on the board when first-year Domenic Commisso ripped a slapshot into the top corner to tie the game up at one apiece.
Concordia took the lead two minutes into the third period when Alexandre Desgagnes put a bouncing puck in the back of the net. The boys from Montreal weren’t finished there. One minute later Pascal Corbeil tucked the puck bar down to give the Stingers a two-goal lead.
Halfway through the third, Jesse Barwell put his team (Ryerson) back in the game with a beautiful goal from the slot. Barwell turned up the gears in the third, and head coach Johnny Duco took notice. Barwell was rewarded with more shifts late in the game while the Rams tried to tie the game up.
“It’s always nice to be rewarded for your actions,” said Barwell. “Just taking that ice and taking advantage of it. It’s a great feeling to have a coach acknowledge you in that way and get extra ice.”
Barwell and his teammates put tons of pressure on the Stingers in the last two minutes of the game. The Rams piled pucks on net but couldn’t find the equalizing goal.
The Rams will be finishing off their preseason schedule on Oct.5 in Lewiston, New York against Niagara before opening their OUA season at home against Guelph.