Ontario Tech Ridgebacks

Last updated
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.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ottawa Gee-Gees</span> Athletic teams that represent the University of Ottawa

The Ottawa Gee-Gees are the athletic teams that represent the University of Ottawa in Ottawa, Ontario.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Western Mustangs</span> Athletic program of the University of Western Ontario

The Western Mustangs are the athletic teams that represent Western University in London, Ontario, Canada. The school's athletic program supports 46 varsity teams. Their mascot is a Mustang named J.W. and the school colours are purple and white. The university's varsity teams compete in the Ontario University Athletics conference and the national U Sports organization. Western University offers 21 varsity sports for men and 19 for women which compete in the OUA conference. The university also offers cheerleading, women's ringette, women's softball, table tennis and ultimate frisbee, which compete outside the OUA conference, in sport-specific conferences and divisions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Queen's Golden Gaels</span> Athletic teams that represent Queens University at Kingston

The Queen's Gaels is the athletics program representing Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario, Canada. The main athletics facilities include Richardson Memorial Stadium, the Queen's Athletics and Recreation Centre, Nixon Field and Tindall Field. The team colours are gold, blue, and red.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Guelph Gryphons</span> Athletic teams of the University of Guelph, Canada

The Guelph Gryphons are the athletic teams that represent the University of Guelph in Guelph, Ontario, Canada. The university's varsity teams compete in the Ontario University Athletics conference of the U Sports (OUA's), and, where applicable, in the west division. The university teams are often referred to as the Gryphs, which is short for the school's mascot, Gryph, the gryphon.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carleton Ravens</span> Athletic teams of Carleton University in Ottawa

The Carleton Ravens are the athletic teams that represent Carleton University in Ottawa, Ontario. The most notable sports team for Carleton is the men's basketball team. In men's basketball, the Ravens have won 16 of the last 19 national men's championships, which is more than any top division college in Canada or the United States. The Ravens went on an 87-game winning streak from 2003 to 2006. They also had a 54-game home winning streak. The Ravens finished 2nd in the World University Basketball Championships in 2004.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lakehead Thunderwolves</span> Athletic teams representing Lakehead University

The Lakehead Thunderwolves are the U Sports varsity athletic teams that represent Lakehead University in Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nipissing Lakers</span> Athletic teams representing Nipissing University

The Nipissing Lakers are the athletic teams that represent Nipissing University in North Bay, Ontario, Canada that compete in U Sports.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Waterloo Warriors</span> University of Waterloo athletic teams

The Waterloo Warriors are the intercollegiate sports teams that represent the University of Waterloo in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. The Warriors have found success over certain spans in football, hockey, rugby, golf and basketball among others, and the Warriors have won national championships in ice hockey (1974), basketball (1975), and women's swimming (1975). For many years from the 1960s through the 1990s, Warrior basketball games attracted the largest and rowdiest basketball crowds in the country. The Warriors Football teams have won two Yates Cup Championships, in 1997 and in 1999.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">York Lions</span> Sports teams of York University in Toronto

The York Lions is the official name for the athletic varsity teams that represent York University in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The university's varsity teams compete in the Ontario University Athletics conference of U Sports and, where applicable, in the east division. The Lion's logo features a red lion from the school's logo with the university's colours, red and white.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Toronto Varsity Blues</span> Sports teams of the University of Toronto, Canada

The Toronto Varsity Blues are the intercollegiate sports program at the University of Toronto. Its 43 athletic teams regularly participate in competitions held by Ontario University Athletics and U Sports. The Varsity Blues trace their founding to 1877, with the formation of the men's football team. Since 1908, Varsity Blues athletes have won numerous medals in Olympic and Paralympic Games and have also long competed in International University Sports Federation championships, Commonwealth Games, and Pan American Games.

Robert Gordon Pearson is a Canadian former professional ice hockey right winger who played in the National Hockey League (NHL)., and is now general manager and head coach of Pickering Panthers of the Ontario Junior Hockey League.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ontario University Athletics</span> Governing body for university sport in Ontario

Ontario University Athletics is a regional membership association for Canadian universities which assists in co-ordinating competition between their university level athletic programs and providing contact information, schedules, results, and releases about those programs and events to the public and the media. This is similar to what would be called a college athletic conference in the United States. OUA, which covers Ontario, is one of four such bodies that are members of the country's governing body for university athletics, U Sports. The other three regional associations coordinating university-level sports in Canada are Atlantic University Sport (AUS), the Canada West Universities Athletic Association (CW), and Réseau du sport étudiant du Québec (RSEQ).

Craig Fisher is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player who currently works in the athletic administration for Ontario Tech University (UOIT), having previously served as the head coach of the UOIT hockey team.

Guelph Athletics is the athletic department at the University of Guelph, located in Guelph, Ontario. The university athletics program is sponsored by Russell Athletics. Many of the athletic programs are associated with Ontario University Athletics and Canadian Interuniversity Sport, to compete for both provincial and national championships. The university teams are called the Guelph Gryphons.

Peyvand Mossavat (born August 17, 1970) is an Iranian-born Canadian former soccer player and coach who played in the Canadian Soccer League. Canadian National Soccer League, National Professional Soccer League, USL A-League, and the Canadian Professional Soccer League.

Kayla De Souza is a footballer who plays for North Mississauga SC in League1 Ontario. Born in Canada, she represented Guyana at international level.

Briana DeSouza is a footballer who plays as a defender. Born in Canada, she co-captains the Guyana national team and competed at the 2016 CONCACAF Women's Olympic Qualifying Championship.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Waterloo Warriors women's ice hockey</span> Waterloo Warriors womens ice hockey program

The Waterloo Warriors women's ice hockey program represents the University of Waterloo in the Ontario University Athletics women's ice hockey conference of U Sports. The team plays at Columbia Icefield Arena, located on the north side of the University's main campus, in a complex on the same site as Warrior Field. Former hockey player Shaun Reagan has served as head coach since the 2011-12 season.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">U Sports men's basketball</span> University mens basketball

U Sports men's basketball is the highest level of amateur play of basketball in Canada and operates under the auspices of U Sports, Canada's governing body for university sports. Forty-eight teams from Canadian universities are divided into four athletic conferences, drawing from the four regional associations of U Sports: Canada West Universities Athletic Association, Ontario University Athletics, Réseau du sport étudiant du Québec, and Atlantic University Sport. At the end of every season, eight teams compete for the W. P. McGee Trophy, awarded to the U Sports Men's Basketball Championship team.

The Ontario Tech Ridgebacks men's ice hockey team is an active ice hockey program representing the Ontario Tech Ridgebacks athletic department of the Ontario Tech University. The program is a member of Ontario University Athletics in the East division, a conference under the oversight of U Sports. The Ridgebacks play at the Campus Ice Centre in Oshawa, Ontario.

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".