The Carleton Ravens men’s hockey team knocked off the University of Toronto Varsity Blues 4-0 Feb. 19 in game three of their eastern conference quarterfinal series. With the win, the Ravens advance to the second round of the Ontario University Athletics (OUA) East playoffs.  

Playing for the second time in as many nights, both teams came out hungry, and traded scoring chances early on. Andrew Self got the Ravens on the board on a powerplay with just under four minutes to play in the first period. That would stand up as the eventual game winner, as Matthew Dopud made 22 saves to earn his first playoff shutout.

Self scored his second of the game late in the middle period, and the Ravens also got goals from Linden Bahm and Brandon MacLean. This marks the third consecutive year the Ravens have won their first round series after losing game one. Head coach Marty Johnston said he was happy with his team’s all-around effort.

“We played really well in the first period,” Johnston said. “I thought we really limited their chances. They did get a few and [Dopud] made great stops. Our best players were our best players.”

That included MacLean, who scored for the second game in a row. Both were goals that brought the fans to their feet after brilliant individual efforts. However, the third-year forward was quick to give praise to both his linemates Joey Manley and Ryan Berard, as well as the rambunctious Ice House crowd.

“Any time you come at home, you’ve got the fans here ready to go,” he said. “We went right to the net and just started banging away and got a few and they started to come for us after that.”

Dopud also gave equal praise to his teammates for stepping up with their season on the line.

“We all played as a team, I was really happy about that,” Dopud said.  “When we come out strong it makes my job that much easier. I felt like I was on top of my game, just like I’m pretty sure the whole team was on their game.”

For Toronto head coach Darren Lowe, there was a feeling of disappointment and missed opportunity.

“It’s tough. Obviously when you win that first game, it creates a little bit of excitement,” Lowe said. “We knew we were the underdog and we just thought we could come here and play a little bit better than we did. I tip my hat to them, they’re just a good team.”

Carleton will advance to play either the Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières (UQTR) Patriotes or Nipissing Lakers, pending the outcome of the game between UQTR and the Concordia Stingers Feb. 20. Nobody on the Ravens would hint as to which team they prefer to face.

“Teams that win in the playoffs make the other team play their game,” MacLean said. “That’s what we’re going to try and do. At this point we’re looking forward to whoever we get.”

Johnston also agreed that his focus was on his own team, not the opposition.

“It’s a relief (to win), but now it’s on to video for the next team. They’re both tough places to play. We don’t care who we play.”