The Mens Blues were forced to earn their victory over the University of London Union Dragons, overcoming a three-goal deficit and clinching the lead in the last minutes of the game. The Oxford squad looked flat in the first period of Saturday night’s matchup at Oxford Ice Rink. London produced all of the period’s scoring chances and capitalized twice on odd-man rushes after neutral zone turnovers. If not for Oxford goaltender Ryan  Berg’s (USA) kick-saves, a Blues comeback would have seemed unrealistic by the end of the first.

The start of the second period was not much more promising for the Blues, as within the first minute of play London fired a shot from the point through Berg’s five-hole off a face-off.  An opportune power-play goal by Adrian "The Wizard" Haight (Canada) off a rebound put Oxford on the scoreboard, but the Dragons responded with another of their own. This, however, did not discourage the Blues. Instead of retreating, they refocused their efforts and played their trademark style of unrelenting hits and scrappy goals. The Blues’ strength in numbers paid off halfway through the match, as the grinders began to wear down two-line London squad. Haight put away a second rebound goal, and Jon Morrison (Canada) scored off his own rebound with a huge second effort after the shot. The second intermission was a welcome break for London’s players, many of whom were on the wrong end of  6’7” Dave Lewis’ (UK) Juggernaut-worthy checks.

The third period delivered what some are already calling the most exciting twenty minutes of regular season hockey ever played in England. While the game’s physical intensity increased, so did the scoring. David Damberger (Canada) tied the game up early in the period, but London took the lead again soon after. Oxford’s next two goals were successively met with a London response, until a tip by Damberger tied the game for the last time with just over four minutes left. Tensions ran high as more than once gloves dropped and both teams poured blood and sweat onto the ice to prove who is the best in the BUIHA. A cheap hit from behind gave Oxford the power play with three minutes left. Excellent puck movement and traffic in front of the London net created the perfect setup for Christian Shepherd (UK) to rip a low shot from the blueline, which was then redirected off Danberger’s skate and snuck past the Dragons’ goalie, giving Oxford their first lead of the game with only 1:20 left. This lead proved to be final, as London’s empty-net efforts could not overcome Oxford’s defense.

Haight secured his second hattrick in as many games, while Damberger’s disciplined positioning and hard work earned him a hattrick as well. Oxford captain Gino Bruni (Canada), who scored a goal of his own, perfectly summarized the match in a post-game interview, "Oxford hockey: it isn't pretty but we get the job done.”

Game MVP: Ryan Berg

Juggernaut Jacket: Dave Lewis

NEXT MATCH: Monday December 5 @ Southampton Spitfires - 22:30 AWAY

Check out the articlie in The Oxford Student  

---Article Written by Justin McNamara