Ontario Tech Ridgebacks

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Ontario Tech Ridgebacks
Ontario Tech Ridgebacks logo.png
University Ontario Tech University
Association U Sports
Conference Ontario University Athletics
Athletic directorScott Barker
Location Oshawa, Ontario
Varsity teams16
ArenaCampus Ice Centre
MascotHunter the Ridgeback
Colours   
Dark blue, light blue, orange [1]
Website www.goridgebacks.com

The Ontario Tech Ridgebacks are the athletic teams that represent Ontario Tech University in Oshawa, Ontario, Canada. The Ridgebacks have been competing in Ontario University Athletics since 2006 and have been a member of U Sports since 2008.

Contents

The Ontario Tech Ridgebacks compete in badminton, soccer, women's lacrosse, curling, golf, rowing, dance, basketball, and hockey. Formerly, the Ridgebacks had a tennis program. However, in 2016 after 10 seasons the university decided to eliminate the tennis program in favour of creating a badminton program.

Logo and mascot

Ontario Tech's athletic team colours are blue and orange.

The university's mascot and logo is based on a Rhodesian Ridgeback breed of dog. From the Ridgebacks' website, 2013:

“[The Rhodesian Ridgeback] is a large and well muscled hunting dog that is legendary for its ability and use in hunting down lions. Strong and extremely competitive by nature, the Ridgeback is also lightning quick and deftly alert while constantly paying attention to its surroundings. Known as a dominant dog with aggressive instincts, the Ridgeback moves, not only like a hunting dog, but like a dog of prey. It is strong willed and confident and thrives on vigorous exercise and athletic activities. It is equally as tough in the water as it is on land.” [2]

Men's ice hockey

Ridgebacks' goalie Jesse Raymond ready for a face-off (September 2013) Ridgebacks goalie 2013 preseason.JPG
Ridgebacks' goalie Jesse Raymond ready for a face-off (September 2013)
Ridgebacks' warming up the goalie (September 2013) Ridgebacks warming up in 2013 preseason.JPG
Ridgebacks' warming up the goalie (September 2013)

The current head coach of the men's ice hockey team is Curtis Hodgins. The coaching staff includes Rob Powers (assistant), Joe Piccone (assistant), Dave Kennedy (goalie coach), and Cameron Bickle (video coach). Other staff include Spencer Segriff (equipment manager), Brad Gauld (scouting), and Sean Myers (scouting). Hodgins took the role leaving the Cobourg Cougars (OJHL Junior A) mid-season in 2015–16 to take over from former head coach Craig Fisher, who resigned due to medical concerns. Craig Fisher, whose hiring was announced two weeks before the start of the 2013-14 OUA playoffs, was the result of the university's search for new direction after the disappointment of recent seasons; placing emphasis on improving academics, and team culture.

In Curtis Hodgins' inaugural year (2015–16) with the Ontario Tech Ridgebacks, the team set a new season high in wins and points, earned the team's first ever playoff round victory, and received the team's first ever vote for the USports Top 10 ranking. Following the success of '15-16, the Ridgebacks of 2016–17 achieved CIS National Ranking for the first time in program history, earning their highest ranking to date of #4 on November 9, 2016. The Ridgebacks continued to make the playoffs in 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2020, losing in the first round on each occasion. Hodgins would lead the team to their second ever playoff series win in 2022, losing to the eventual national champion UQTR Patriotes in round two. The Ridgebacks returned to the playoffs for a tenth consecutive season in 2022.

History

The Ontario Tech Ridgeback men's ice hockey program began with head coach Marlin Muylaert; the first head coach of the program hired for the inaugural season.

Muylaert ended his seventh season behind the bench early and was let go midway through the '13–14 campaign. The assistant coach at the time, Justin Caruana, was given the interim head coach tag and completed the season with the rest of Muylaert's coaching staff, composed of Rob Whistle, David Brown, Ian Young, Matt Reed, and strength and conditioning coach Mark Fitzgerald.

Regular season and playoff results

SeasonLeagueDivisionGPWLOTLSOLPtsPctGFGAHead coachSeason resultPlayoff result
2016-17CISOUA East28161101330.5898883Curtis Hodgins7th Division, 10th League1st Round Exit
2015-16CISOUA East2818811380.6439493Craig Fisher/Curtis Hodgins4th Division, 4th League2nd Round Exit
2014-15CISOUA East26101510210.38573106Craig Fisher7th Division, 13th League1st Round Exit
2013-14CISOUA East2881640200.28664110Marlin Muylaert/Justin Caruana8th Division, 17th League1st Round Exit
2012-13CISOUA West28111610230.39392112Marlin Muylaert8th Division, 16th League1st Round Exit
2011-12CISOUA West2862110130.21486138Marlin Muylaert9th Division, 18th LeagueDid Not Make
2010-11CISOUA West28121240280.42982100Marlin Muylaert7th Division, 12th League1st Round Exit
2009-10CISOUA West28111520240.39390119Marlin Muylaert8th Division, 15th League1st Round Exit
2008-09CISOUA Mid West2871650190.25083130Marlin Muylaert4th Division, 16th LeagueDid Not Make
2007-08CISOUA Mid West2861930150.21460128Marlin Muylaert4th Division, 17th LeagueDid Not Make

Skaters all-time/career season stat leaders

Player NamePositionGames PlayedGoalsAssistsPointsPTS/GP
Josh VatriF10456491051.01
Tony RizziF13849541030.75
Nathan SpalingF1123061910.81
Jesse StoughtonF1004638840.84
Luke VanMoerkerkeF1333251830.62
Cameron YuillF1352256780.58
James WoodcroftF1323533680.52
Mike NoyesD1122047670.60
Brendan WiseF1273529640.50
Kyle WeteringF972734610.63
Kevin GeorgeF1052430540.51
Derrick BagshawF742625510.69
Scott BakerF782031510.65
Jake LoganD119545500.42
Jason ShawD75940490.65

*Denotes Active Player

Goalies all-time/career season stat leaders

Player NameGames PlayedMinutes PlayedWinsWin %ShutoutsGoals AgainstSavesGoals Against AverageSave %
Tyson Teichmann*15815150.5381393702.870.905
Brendan O'Neil*573285330.579317416033.180.902
Colin Dzijacky39193090.231211810113.670.895
Jason Guy673595210.313223420033.910.895
Ben Csiernik39310.33306503.870.893
Josh Evans815400.00012974.680.890
Bryce O'Hagan251419100.4001887023.720.889
Josh Sturrock614300.00010744.200.881
Jacob Rattie1872130.1670564104.660.880
Matt Mateja43215590.209116812114.680.878
Jesse Raymond627510.170191304.150.872
Jeff Dawson44191380.18201409394.390.870

*Denotes Active Player

Skaters all-time/career playoff stat leaders

Player NamePositionGames PlayedGoalsAssistsPointsPTS/GP
James WoodcroftF939121.33
Jesse StoughtonF95270.78
Jason ShawD52461.20
Ryan Doucette*F83250.63
Danny Elser*F82350.63
Mitch Bennett*F/D72350.71
Ben Blasko*F81340.50
Cam YuillF142240.29
Mike Robinson*F102240.40
Tyler Mayea*D80340.50
Colt KennedyF42241.00
Connor Jarvis*F71231.00
Brendan WiseF41230.75
Brent VartyF30331.00
Jeremy WhelanF32131.00

*Denotes active player

Tennis

Announced in 2016 after 10 completed seasons competing in Tennis, the University announced the elimination of the program.

Rowing

The Ridgebacks rowing team was first established in 2005 and currently operate out of Durham Rowing Club in Port Perry, Ontario. Currently the team competes in Ontario level regattas during the months of September and October. The team fields both men's and women's rowing at both novice and varsity levels. [3]

Badminton

Announced in 2016, in conjunction with the elimination of the Tennis program, the university created and began the Badminton program. The inaugural coach for the introduction of the program is Wayne King, a decorated OUA badminton coach with years of experience with the University of Toronto badminton program.

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References

  1. "Brand Central". University of Ontario Institute of Technology. Retrieved 27 March 2019.
  2. "UOIT Tradition". University of Ontario Institute of Technology. Archived from the original on November 9, 2013. Retrieved November 7, 2013.
  3. "UOIT Rowing".