After an explosive first period and a physical game, the Carleton Ravens men’s hockey team dropped their home opener to the uOttawa GeeGees in a 5-1 loss.
With Pedro the Panda in attendance for the ceremonial puck drop and a packed arena, spirits were high on both benches.
A week ago, the Carleton Ravens football team finally brought Pedro the Panda home, winning the 56th Panda Game for the first time since 2017.
Ravens captain Blake Allan said the Panda Game “for sure” was a part of the game’s emotions.
The Ravens’ offence made themselves known from the get-go with a power-play goal from rookie forward David Fournier just four minutes after puck drop — his first goal at home following his first OUA goal last Friday against RMC.
“The effort was good … But it’s a thing where we have to play like that all the time,” Ravens head coach Mark Cavallin said after the game.
A goaltender interference penalty on GeeGees’ forward Andrew Belchamber gave Carleton its second power-play opportunity of the night a few minutes later, but they were unable to capitalize.
The Ravens came out of the locker room for the second period as invigorated as the first, but the frame quickly slipped away from them as the GeeGees scored three straight.
“We tried to press a little too much, and we gave away a couple more because of it,” Cavallin said.
The Ravens skated off after the second frame looking disconnected and a bit reckless in their plays, having trouble finding each other’s tapes — a stark contrast from the first period’s mechanical cohesion on the ice.
Allan said the team’s chemistry is continuing to improve as the season gets rolling.
“Every year as new guys come in, it adds, you know, the culture and the character that’s been building here, and they’re all great additions,” he said.
In a heap of physicality between the two benches, the third period quickly became a game of special teams.
“Our intensity was really good, our systems were really good. We didn’t give up, either, which is a big part of our team,” Allan added.
Ravens goaltender Tye Austin made 30 saves in the loss.
“There’s no fault in our goalie [in tonight’s loss],” Allan said.
Following a high-sticking penalty from Ravens forward Fournier, Belchamber found the back of the net, assisted by Zach Giroux, for Ottawa’s fourth goal of the night.
Carleton pulled their goalie with three minutes and 40 seconds left in the game. Shortly after, GeeGees’ forward Mitch Martin scored an empty net goal to round up the score at 5-1 for Ottawa.
Although the weekend was disappointing for the Ravens — who also fell 5-3 to the RMC Paladins on Friday — Cavallin remains optimistic.
“I think that was a game the GeeGees would be very happy with, and so would we. Both teams played very physical and with a lot of emotion.
“I think that’s good hockey to watch and good hockey to play.”
The Ravens (1-3) will be back in action on Oct. 17, where they will face the Ontario Tech Ridgebacks (2-2) at home. Puck drop is 7 p.m.
Featured image by Owen Spillios-Hunter/the Charlatan
