Ontario Tech Ridgebacks
Logo
UniversityOntario Tech University
AssociationU Sports
ConferenceOntario University Athletics
Athletic directorScott Barker
LocationOshawa, Ontario
Varsity teams16
ArenaCampus Ice Centre
MascotHunter the Ridgeback
Colours     
Dark blue, light blue, orange[1]
Websitewww.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.

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' 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

Season League Division GP W L OTL SOL Pts Pct GF GA Head coach Season result Playoff result
2016-17 CIS OUA East 28 16 11 0 1 33 0.589 88 83 Curtis Hodgins 7th Division, 10th League 1st Round Exit
2015-16 CIS OUA East 28 18 8 1 1 38 0.643 94 93 Craig Fisher/Curtis Hodgins 4th Division, 4th League 2nd Round Exit
2014-15 CIS OUA East 26 10 15 1 0 21 0.385 73 106 Craig Fisher 7th Division, 13th League 1st Round Exit
2013-14 CIS OUA East 28 8 16 4 0 20 0.286 64 110 Marlin Muylaert/Justin Caruana 8th Division, 17th League 1st Round Exit
2012-13 CIS OUA West 28 11 16 1 0 23 0.393 92 112 Marlin Muylaert 8th Division, 16th League 1st Round Exit
2011-12 CIS OUA West 28 6 21 1 0 13 0.214 86 138 Marlin Muylaert 9th Division, 18th League Did Not Make
2010-11 CIS OUA West 28 12 12 4 0 28 0.429 82 100 Marlin Muylaert 7th Division, 12th League 1st Round Exit
2009-10 CIS OUA West 28 11 15 2 0 24 0.393 90 119 Marlin Muylaert 8th Division, 15th League 1st Round Exit
2008-09 CIS OUA Mid West 28 7 16 5 0 19 0.250 83 130 Marlin Muylaert 4th Division, 16th League Did Not Make
2007-08 CIS OUA Mid West 28 6 19 3 0 15 0.214 60 128 Marlin Muylaert 4th Division, 17th League Did Not Make

Skaters all-time/career season stat leaders

Player Name Position Games Played Goals Assists Points PTS/GP
Josh Vatri F 104 56 49 105 1.01
Tony Rizzi F 138 49 54 103 0.75
Nathan Spaling F 112 30 61 91 0.81
Jesse Stoughton F 100 46 38 84 0.84
Luke VanMoerkerke F 133 32 51 83 0.62
Cameron Yuill F 135 22 56 78 0.58
James Woodcroft F 132 35 33 68 0.52
Mike Noyes D 112 20 47 67 0.60
Brendan Wise F 127 35 29 64 0.50
Kyle Wetering F 97 27 34 61 0.63
Kevin George F 105 24 30 54 0.51
Derrick Bagshaw F 74 26 25 51 0.69
Scott Baker F 78 20 31 51 0.65
Jake Logan D 119 5 45 50 0.42
Jason Shaw D 75 9 40 49 0.65

*Denotes Active Player

Goalies all-time/career season stat leaders

Player Name Games Played Minutes Played Wins Win % Shutouts Goals Against Saves Goals Against Average Save %
Tyson Teichmann* 15 815 15 0.538 1 39 370 2.87 0.905
Brendan O'Neil* 57 3285 33 0.579 3 174 1603 3.18 0.902
Colin Dzijacky 39 1930 9 0.231 2 118 1011 3.67 0.895
Jason Guy 67 3595 21 0.313 2 234 2003 3.91 0.895
Ben Csiernik 3 93 1 0.333 0 6 50 3.87 0.893
Josh Evans 8 154 0 0.00 0 12 97 4.68 0.890
Bryce O'Hagan 25 1419 10 0.400 1 88 702 3.72 0.889
Josh Sturrock 6 143 0 0.00 0 10 74 4.20 0.881
Jacob Rattie 18 721 3 0.167 0 56 410 4.66 0.880
Matt Mateja 43 2155 9 0.209 1 168 1211 4.68 0.878
Jesse Raymond 6 275 1 0.17 0 19 130 4.15 0.872
Jeff Dawson 44 1913 8 0.182 0 140 939 4.39 0.870

*Denotes Active Player

Skaters all-time/career playoff stat leaders

Player Name Position Games Played Goals Assists Points PTS/GP
James Woodcroft F 9 3 9 12 1.33
Jesse Stoughton F 9 5 2 7 0.78
Jason Shaw D 5 2 4 6 1.20
Ryan Doucette* F 8 3 2 5 0.63
Danny Elser* F 8 2 3 5 0.63
Mitch Bennett* F/D 7 2 3 5 0.71
Ben Blasko* F 8 1 3 4 0.50
Cam Yuill F 14 2 2 4 0.29
Mike Robinson* F 10 2 2 4 0.40
Tyler Mayea* D 8 0 3 4 0.50
Colt Kennedy F 4 2 2 4 1.00
Connor Jarvis* F 7 1 2 3 1.00
Brendan Wise F 4 1 2 3 0.75
Brent Varty F 3 0 3 3 1.00
Jeremy Whelan F 3 2 1 3 1.00

*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.

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".
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