The York University Lions men's hockey team suffered a 5-2 defeat to the rival Ryerson Rams at the Mattamy Athletic Centre on Saturday night, in the final game of 2017 for both teams.
 
In the tight OUA West standings, the win gives the Rams 23 points on the year, the same number the Lions have posted in one more game. The two squads are tied with the Guelph Gryphons atop the division, with the Laurier Golden Haws only one point back.
 
It was all about special teams in the first period as the two teams combined for three goals. The Lions opened the scoring at 11:01 when Reid Jackman scored a power play tally with assists to Trevor Petersen and Derek Sheppard. The lead was short-lived, however, as Cavin Leth scored a power play goal of his own just 1:40 late to level the score at 1-1.
 
Minutes before the end of the frame, and with Sal Filice in the box on a holding call, Scott Feser netted a shorthanded goal to restore the Lions' lead and the score was at 2-1 heading into the first intermission.
 
Unfortunately for the Lions, they struggled to get much offence going in the second period and the Rams capitalized, scoring three unanswered goals to pull ahead 4-2. Mitchell Skapski found the back of the net at 8:34, Vince Figliomeni gave the Rams their first lead of the game at 11:41, and Leth added his second of the night at 15:36.
 
The Lions outshot the Rams 11-7 in the third period but could not solve Ryerson goaltender Taylor Dupuis. Leth finished his evening with a hat trick after adding an empty net goal with 21 seconds left on the clock.
 
Both teams are now off for the December break. The Lions will return to action on Friday, Jan. 5 when they welcome the Brock Badgers to Canlan Ice Sports for a 7pm puck drop.