In their first home game back from winter break, the Carleton Ravens (7-12) men’s hockey team brought a win to the Ice House, defeating the East Division-leading UQTR Patriotes 3-1.
After a 4-2 loss on the road against the McGill Redbirds on Friday, the Ravens recharged on the way back to Ottawa and secured their first victory of 2026.
The Ravens started behind the Patriotes, as Anthony Turcotte buried a goal just four minutes into the first.
The period ended with the Patriotes leading the shots on goal at 12-2 but turned things around in the second as the crowd buzzed with energy in the action-packed evening.
The Ravens kept their determination and spirits high throughout the game with a steady “no-quit mentality,” head coach Mark Cavallin said after the game.
“Dylan [Meilun] had another great game,” Cavallin said of his goaltender, crediting him for keeping his squad in the first.
Ravens assistant captain Nick McCarry noted the team “turned too many pucks over,” in the first but “came out hard in the second period.”
Within two minutes back on the ice in the second period, McCarry scored for the Ravens, tying up the game 1-1.
With newfound motivation after the goal, the Ravens continued to push hard throughout the second period and three minutes later, Ravens’ Brady Egan scored, bringing the team into the lead.
“It’s a situation we haven’t been in much this year,” the goalscorer said. “Throughout the whole season, we haven’t been as connected as we were tonight.”
With a total of six Patriotes players sent to the box in the second period, the Ravens continued strong with multiple power plays.
“It helps a team when you have those power plays,” Cavallin said. “Our defence was so much better than what we had in the first half.”
Midway through the second period, Ravens forward Robbie Rutlegde scored his third of the year to give Carleton a 3-1 lead.
Aggression grew towards the end of the second, as Patriotes defenseman Édouard Cournoyer got a game misconduct for major kneeing, lending Carleton a five-minute power play.
Carleton failed to capitalize but continued strong play throughout the end of the second and the third.
“We hunkered down in the end,” Cavallin added.
The Patriotes pulled within one with five minutes left in the game, with Ludovic Soucy putting one past Meilun.
As the last few seconds counted down, the crowd was already on their feet for the Ravens as they gladly took the win against what Cavallin called “one of the best teams in the league.”
“We know playoffs aren’t far out of our reach,” the Ravens coach added. “Hopefully that [win] gives us good belief in the room.”
Next, the Ravens will face the Nipissing Lakers on the road. Puckdrop is Friday at 7 p.m.
Featured image provided by the UQTR Patriotes
