OTTAWA, ON – OUA men’s hockey is finally back for the Carleton Ravens and the Ottawa Gee-Gees. There were several CHL graduates making their U SPORTS debuts on Thursday night. On Ottawa, Tri-City Americans alum Nick Bowman, Peterborough Petes alum F Max Grondin, Acadie-Bathurst Titan Mathieu Desgagnes. For Carleton, Saginaw Spirit alum C.J. Garcia.
It didn’t take long for both teams to get their feet underneath them and get reinvested into the rivalry as the game would be a chippy, fast-paced affair. The trend in the first period was how the play would be along the boards. There was little time for either team to cycle it down-low and get to the slot. There were a few odd man rushes for both teams but great defensive plays would sniff those scoring chances out.
Carleton got the first powerplay of the game when Branden Makara earned a two minute penalty for high-sticking. Carleton’s first powerplay would not do well as Ottawa came out with an aggressive penalty kill and closed down the passing lanes. The score was 0-0 after 20 minutes of play.
Freshman Ravens forward Oliver Castleman opened the scoring 8 minutes into the 2nd period with a wrist shot top shelf. Before Ottawa goaltender Tristan Berube earned a penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct after the goal went in. Three minutes later, the Ravens added on to their lead as Parker Aucoin hopped off the bench to score for his first of the season.
Ottawa would have a chance to cut into the Carleton lead on the powerplay but the Ravens penalty kill made sure to keep Ottawa to the perimeter and force point shots and from areas where it was easy for G Mark Grametbauer to save. Throughout the 2nd period, Carleton’s defensive zone coverage was excellent as Ottawa didn’t have much offensive zone time.
Ottawa would come out of the intermission with a great start to the 3rd period as they finally got time in the offensive zone but the Ravens would bend but don’t break as they got out of the early challenge unscathed.
Ottawa kept adding on the pressure and Carleton would finally snap as Nick Bowman would snap the puck home on a great set-up feed by Anthony Poulin to cut Carleton’s lead to 2-1. Ottawa gained a lot of momentum from that goal.
Branden Makara skated in from the right circle and tie the game at 2-2 as the home faithful went crazy. Carleton’s defensive zone coverage had to tighten up as Ottawa found a way to get the play off the boards and into the more dangerous parts of the offensive zone such as the slot. Another thing Ottawa did was to get bodies in front of the net.
Ottawa controlled much of the action in the 3rd period but Ravens G Mark Grametbauer stood tall and kept the score tied at 2-2. It wouldn’t be a rivalry game without some extra action.
Aaron Boyd would score the game winner in overtime top shelf as Carleton spoils Ottawa’s home opener 3-2. With the win, the Ravens start the seaoson, picking up two valuable points in an abbreviated 20 game campaign. These two Capital city foes will get used to seeing each other this season, as they look ahead to another four meetings in 2021-22.
Cover photo: Carleton Sports Information