The Ryerson Rams beat the York Lions 4-1 in their season opener on the road.
The Rams got into early penalty trouble giving up a five-on-three power play late in the first period. Mitch Gallant, fourth-year veteran, took a goaltender interference penalty and Lucas Froese took a high-sticking penalty.
However, starting goaltender Troy Passingham, who stopped 29 of 30 shots, said after the game it didn’t affect the team’s morale.
“We have faith in our penalty kill to get it done. We never thought we were going to get down,” he said.
Two minutes after the Rams killed off the penalties, Victor Terreri, fourth-year politics and governance student, scored the first goal of the Rams’ season.
Jason Kelly, the fourth-year centre, doubled the Rams’ lead on an early second period five-on-three power play.
Daniel Clairmont, scored his first Ontario University Athletics goal short-handed late in the second period. Defencemen, Kevin Woodyatt was in the box.
Gallant got into penalty trouble early in the third period. First, he took a roughing after the whistle penalty, which is when the Lions scored their only goal of the game.
Then he took a second penalty of the period, third of the game, a minute after he got out of the box. He took a 10 minute misconduct.
While Gallant was in the penalty box, Passingham made a big save on a breakaway by the Lions.
Once he got out of the box, Gallant set up Matthew Andreacchi to give the Rams a late 4-1 lead.
Coach Graham Wise said he was happy with his team’s effort.
“Our players came out and executed what we wanted them to do,” said Wise.
The Ram play two exhibition games this weekend against NCAA opponents. Next Thursday, Oct. 9, the Rams will play their home opener against Laurentian.
Beth graduated with a Bachelor of Journalism and a minor in politics from Ryerson University in 2015. Beth interned at TSN sports radio in Toronto and Vancouver, and CTV Vancouver.