# Ontario Tech Ridgebacks

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.”

## Men's ice hockey

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 2013–14 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.

## 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.