Location...................................... Oshawa, Ontario Enrolment................................... 10,000 Founded..................................... 2002 Nickname................................... Ridgebacks Affiliation..................................... U SPORTS Conference................................. Ontario University Athletics (OUA) Colours....................................... Blue & White University President................... Dr. Steven Murphy Athletic Director.......................... Scott Barker Mascot........................................ Hunter the Ridgeback Arena.......................................... Campus Ice Centre (The Dog Pound) Capacity..................................... 800 Athletic Department Phone #..... (905) 721-3040 Website....................................... www.goRidgebacks.com Mailing Address.......................... 2000 Simcoe St. North Oshawa, Ontario • L1H 7K4 Head Coach............................... Curtis Hodgins (4th Year) Associate Head Coach............... Brad Gauld Assistant Coach......................... Paul Ranger Assistant Coach......................... Matthew Bourgeois Hockey Operations..................... Sean Meyers Life Coach.................................. Rod Rudd Strength and Conditioning.......... Jeff Watson Equipment Manager................... Kevin Palma Student Therapist....................... Emily Brennan Student Trainer........................... Nic Mutton Arena General Manager............. Tim Watson Game Day Supervisors.............. Kennedy Latour Play-by-Play............................... Asher Roth Colour Commentator.................. Tyler Zoltek PA Announcer............................. Waleed Hamed/Jack Moore Athletic Director.......................... Scott Barker (905) 721-8668 Ext. 2548 scott.barker@ontariotechu.ca Athletics Programs Advisor........ Craig Fisher (905) 721-8668 ext. 3725 craig.fisher@ontariotechu.ca Athletics Manager........................ Scott Dennis (905) 721-8668 Ext. 2784 scott.dennis@uoit.ca Sports Information/Marketing........ Christopher Cameron (905) 721-8668 Ext. 6285 christopher.cameron@ontariotechu.ca Athletic Therapist........................ Jessica Salt (905) 721-8668 Ext. 2081 athletictherapy@ontariotechu.ca
Thank you for taking the time to learn about our Ontario Tech Ridgebacks Men’s Hockey program. We are proud of what we are building here at Ontario Tech and the future is bright. We are in the first year of our exciting new rebrand, changing from UOIT to Ontario Tech University, and this has created great energy across our campus. Our program is built on character young men who are equally passionate about both their academics and athletics. Your time spent with our Ridgebacks’ program will provide many terrific memories, meaningful lifelong friendships and an education that will prepare you for the evolving workplace. My mandate as coach is to create a tremendous student athlete experience and a program that will keep you excited to come to the arena each and every day while ensuring your academic success is a priority. Our incredible staff recognize the many challenges that first-year students face as they return to school after finishing up their Junior hockey careers. With an extensive support system in place, first-year students have access to valuable workshops and seminars aimed at improving study and academic habits, covering topics such as time management, note taking, and writing skills. Mandatory study halls are run weekly and peer tutors are available and encouraged. The culture of our hockey program ensures that upper year players are always assisting and helping guide our first year players. On the hockey side of things, our program continues to grow with many firsts achieved in the last few seasons - from national top 10 rankings to program highs in wins - and our goal is to only get stronger. Everything we do on a day-to-day basis is built on a ‘Team First’ philosophy and the character and family of a potential recruit is even more important than the talent they bring on the ice. Our coaching staff brings many years of coaching and playing experience. We have some of the finest facilities in the province here at Ontario Tech and are fortunate to play in a school-owned arena on campus where our players have extensive ice time available to them where they can work on their skills and conditioning outside normal practice hours. Our players are treated very well in terms of equipment and sticks, and we make sure our team always look good off the ice with a generous apparel package. Our motto is ‘Get Better Every Day’. This is our commitment on the ice and extends off the ice in how our players conduct themselves on a daily basis. Being classy and respectful to your professors, fellow students, and athletics staff is very important on a day to day basis and is a footprint of our program. All of us here with the Ridgebacks Men’s Hockey program are extremely excited about what lies ahead. We are committed to being a leader in U SPORTS hockey and to continue building the Ontario Tech brand and reputation across Canada. We are certainly well on our way to achieving those goals, however the true building of our program is only beginning. As Coach of this program, I could not be more excited about what lies ahead.
Curtis Hodgins Head Coach
ONTARIO TECH NAMED ONE OF CANADA’S TOP 10 UNDERGRADUATE UNIVERSITIES The 2017 Maclean’s magazine rankings of Canadian universities illuminates the growing impact of programs and satisfaction among students at Ontario Tech University. The new Maclean’s survey puts the university in the top 10 of Canada’s 19 primarily undergraduate universities. Based on specific methodology, the university has risen in the overall rankings from No. 15 in 2012 to No. 8 this year. The ranking increased in part to rising numbers in such categories as: • • • • • •
Library acquisitions Reputational survey Student awards Student Life (residence living, academic advising, international student enrolment, mental health services, less ‘red tape’, extracurriculars, steps to prevent sexual assault) Student services Total research dollars
While Ontario Tech University has distinguished itself as an undergraduate university, its graduate program offerings have grown significantly over the past 12 years. The university now offers more than 40 master’s and doctoral programs through the School of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies, and is currently home to 14 postdoctoral fellows.
One of Canada’s Fastest growing Universities STUDENTS
10,000+ Undergraduate and graduate
ALUMNI 16,000+
FACULTY AND STAFF 1,550+
DEGREES
Bachelor’s • Master’s • PhDs
PROGRAMS
56 - Undergraduate programs 37 - Graduate programs 20 - Pathways diploma-to-degree
FACULTIES
BUSINESS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY EDUCATION ENERGY SYSTEMS AND NUCLEAR SCIENCE ENGINEERING AND APPLIED SCIENCE
HEALTH SCIENCES SCIENCE SOCIAL SCIENCE AND HUMANITIES
CAMPUS ICE CENTRE
The Campus Ice Centre (aka The Dog Pound) is the perfect sized facility for U SPORTS hockey. Opened in 2005, the arena is one of the newest facilities for U SPORTS hockey across Canada. Located in the heart of campus, the arena is easily accessible to the community and students to watch Ridgeback hockey. The facility has won a number of awards and is considered to be one of the premier ice-skating facilities in Ontario. The Campus Ice Centre features: • Custom designed varsity change rooms • Full bar/restaurant (Simcoe House) • Estimated annual attendance over 600,000 visitors • Facilities to host special events, tournaments, meetings, dinners • Sport retail outlet
STUDENT SUCCESS CENTRE
The student success centre provides academic study space for Ontario Tech varsity athletes. Located in the CRWC, the study space provides individual and group study areas, designated team study hall sessions and assembly areas for group projects.
HIGH PERFORMANCE CENTRE
Elite Training Systems (ETS), run by Mark Fitzgerald (strength & conditioning coach for the NHL’s Anaheim Ducks), has a high performance centre on campus for varsity athletes. “ETS North” is stocked with all of the training equipment and measuring tools that you need to succeed. Unlike a traditional gym, ETS does not bring in equipment for show – if it doesn’t make you better, it doesn’t come in the centre. Everything has a purpose and that purpose is to help you get better, stronger and faster. We do not workout – we train.
CRWC/FLEX CENTRE
The Campus Recreation and Wellness Centre (CRWC) offers a wide variety of athletic and recreational services including five gymnasiums with an elevated 200 metre indoor running/walking track and the 10,000-square-foot FLEX fitness centre.
CAMPUS FIELDHOUSE
Opened in 2016, the Campus Fieldhouse is an indoor turf facility featuring two playing fields. The men’s hockey team utilizes this facility year-round for indoor training.
2018-19 all-academic award winners
Get Better EVERY DAY
Head Coach - Curtis Hodgins Hodgins began his U SPORTS coaching career in October 2015 when he was hired to lead the Ridgebacks program after a long and successful career in junior hockey. In his first season with Ontario Tech, Hodgins led the team to a program high in wins in a season (18) as the team advanced to the second round of the OUA playoffs for the first time in program history with a 2-1 series win over Queen’s. The following season, the Ridgebacks landed a spot in the U SPORTS national rankings for the first-time in program history and reached as high as the fourth position during the seven-week span. Ontario Tech finished the year with a 16-11-1 record and returned to the postseason for the fifth straight year. As the team enters their 2019-20 campaign, Hodgins has compiled a 63-37-12 regular season conference record as of September 2019. On the academic side, 2018-19 saw a record nine Academic All-Canadians recognized from the men’s hockey program for their excellence in the classroom. Hodgins was a head coach in the Ontario Junior Hockey League (OJHL) for 16 seasons, coaching 750 regular season games where he amassed a record of 423-229-98. His coaching career began behind the bench of the Bowmanville Eagles where he stayed for the better part of 10 seasons, interrupted only by a two-year stint as an assistant coach with the Oshawa Generals of the OHL. When the Eagles ceased operations in 2010, Hodgins took over the helm of the Whitby Fury and helped lead them to a berth in the 2012 Buckland Cup Final in just his second year with the team. Hodgins then moved east to head up the Cobourg Cougars club for three and a half successful seasons before joining the Ridgebacks. During his time in the OJHL, Hodgins led his teams to four Eastern Conference Championships (2004, 2006, 2010, 2012) and was also named coach of the year on four occasions. On the International stage, Hodgins has also coached two Canada East teams in the World Junior “A” Challenge where he earned a silver medal both as an assistant in 2010 and then as the head coach in 2011. Hodgins is a lifelong Durham Region resident and currently resides in Courtice with his wife Rhonda and their two children, Cooper and Hayden.
RIDGEBACK HIGHLIGHTS UNDER COACH HODGINS First playoff series win • FEBRUARY 2016 program highs in wins/points • FEBRUARY 2016 nationally ranked • October 2016
ASSISTANT COACHES BRAD GAULD
Associate head Coach
PAUL RANGER ASSISTANT COACH
Gauld enters his 5th year with the Ridgebacks bringing many years of coaching experience with him. Prior to joining the Ontraio Tech program, Gauld coached in the OJHL (Whitby Fury) for three seasons and multiple years in the Whitby Minor AAA program.
After retiring from professional hockey in 2015, the Whitby native was looking for ways to give back in a coaching role. Enrolled at Ontario Tech as a kinesiology student, Ranger felt the opportunity to work with Ridgebacks program was a great fit.
In addition to his duties with the Ridgebacks, Gauld is a Coach Mentor in Clarington AAA Zone and a Regional Scout (ETA) with the Erie Otters (OHL).
Ranger started his junior hockey days in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) with the Oshawa Generals before making the jump to the NHL to play with the Tampa Bay Lightning where he spent five seasons.
When away from the rink, Gauld is self employed as an Information Technology Consultant and resides in Whitby.
After a few seasons with the Toronto Maple Leafs organization he played in Switzerland before deciding to step away from the game. In total, the 6’4 defenceman played over 300 games in the NHL on top of his time in the American Hockey League (AHL) and National League A (NLA).
Matthew Bourgeois ASSISTANT COACH
Matthew Bourgeois joined the Ontario Tech hockey program as an assistant coach in 2019. He comes to the Ridgebacks with current experience as the goaltender coach of the Cobourg Cougars and Trinity College School. Bourgeois is also a Hockey Canada goalie development mentor (OMHA/NOHA). His previous OUA experience includes time as goaltender coaches with Ryerson and RMC. He was also a skills development coach and coach development mentor with NHL China, plus the assistant coach, video coach and goalie coach for the Chinese national senior team.
sean meyers
hockey operations Meyers joined the Ridgebacks in 2018 in a role that sees him assist with scouting and recruiting players for Ontario Tech, track and analyze game data and assist with other team management behind the scenes. A Whitby native, Meyers is a Laurentian University grad that worked with the Laurentian Voyageurs from 2013-15, followed by the Oshawa Generals in 201718. He was also a scout for the Espanola Express of the NOJHL in 2017-18. Meyers is looking forward to assisting in the development and growth of the Ridgebacks up-and-coming hockey program, leaning on his years of diverse experience on the business side of hockey to the program.