TORONTO - The Ryerson Rams have just two games left in the 2019 calendar year, happening this week on Mattamy Home Ice. The Brock Badgers head back to town on Thursday night and the Western Mustangs visit on Saturday.

The squad had a spring in their step after beating the Badgers 2-1 on Saturday. Ryerson has started to pull ahead into the top three teams in the OUA West, behind only Toronto and Windsor, and were recently ranked No. 8 in the country in the latest U SPORTS Top 10 polls. 

"We're definitely feeling good," said head coach Johnny Duco last weekend. Before the Badgers' loss on Saturday, they had won nine of their last ten games.

"There's areas we can look to improve right now. We'll take advantage of this time as we get ready for these guys (Brock) again Thursday."

Despite 14 points in 15 games and the game-winner on Saturday, forward Hayden McCool (Whitby, Ont.) praised the Rams' defensive game. "Everything starts in the defensive zone, your offence comes from defence. If you're solid defensively, you'll have your chances offensively."

Coach Duco also wasted no time complementing the special teams work of assistant coach and former Ram, Aaron Armstrong. "Aaron Armstrong's done an outstanding job preparing the penalty kill and their attention to detail in their execution has been remarkable." 

Ryerson's penalty kill is the best in the OUA, operating at 89.7 percent. The team has also been shorthanded the least out of all teams in the OUA, and has allowed an OUA-best power-play goals against at just four all season. "Kudos to Aaron and that group, they're doing a great job," added Duco. 

Among others, Rams skaters Mathew Santos (Toronto), Matt Mistele (Whitby, Ont.), and Gregory DiTomaso (Etobicoke, Ont.) have found themselves near the top of individual OUA leaderboards. Santos and Mistele are tied for fourth in points with 19 each, with Santos also sitting at fourth in scoring with nine goals. Meanwhile, DiTomaso has the third most points among defencemen with 12. 

After their re-run against the Badgers on Thursday, the Rams will look for their second win this season against Western. Last month, Ryerson charged to a 6-2 win while visiting the Mustangs. 

Coach Duco is hopeful that this is only the start of the Rams' success. "I still feel that we've got more in the tank and we can play even better and we're just scratching the surface here."

Both home games this week are set for a 7:15 p.m. puck drop on Mattamy Home Ice. Ryerson students can catch these last games before the semester break for free with their OneCard.