Oshawa’s Ontario Tech women’s hockey squad open season with two big road victories

The Ontario Tech women’s hockey team opened their season in style with pair of road wins.

The Ridgebacks killed off all four Western Mustang power plays and a 2-0 second period held up as they squeezed by Western 2-1 Saturday night.

Mackenzie Krasowski scored the opening goal for the Ridgebacks at the five-minute mark of the first period and sophomore Kayla Welk added what turned out to be the winner on the power play late in the second.

Western would get to within one but Brooke Vial – who made 35 saves – and the Ridgebacks penalty killers did the rest to improve the team’s record to 2-0.

The Ridgebacks opened the season the night before in Windsor and doubled up the Lancers 6-3.

Six different Ridgebacks scored in the game, with the eventual game-winning goal coming from Julia Jackson on the power play, her first OUA goal. Also scoring her first OUA goal in the game was Harrie Jones while transfer Katie Mikkelsen scored her first goal as a Ridgeback.

Zoe McGee made 32 saves in the win.

Ontario Tech’s next game will be Friday, Oct. 28, in Oshawa for their home opener against the Brock Badgers. Puck drop is set for 7 pm.

The men’s team came out of their weekend with a split to move to 2-1 on the season. The Ridgebacks suffered a tough overtime loss against the McGill Redbirds on Saturday but bounced back with a 5-4 win on Sunday afternoon against the Concordia Stingers.

Ontario Tech fell behind Sunday against Concordia but scored twice in the opening period to take a 2-1 lead and blew the game open with three goals in the second. James White scored twice for the Ridgebacks with singles to Stephen Calisti, Noah McMullin and Drew Toner.

Veteran goalie Leif Hertz finished with 33 saves.