Feb. 9th proved to be a disappointing Senior Night for Brock’s men’s hockey team. In their final game of the regular season, the Badgers not only lost to the University of Toronto Varsity Blues but also gave up their precarious hold on their No. 1 rank in the OUA. Toronto, now third in the OUA West, toppled Brock 3-6.
Before the beginning of the game, the Badgers gave thanks to all their senior players and support staff in a touching ceremony at centre ice. Athletes Jake Cella, Jacob Roach, Matthew O’Brien, Justin Kyle, Jacob Hutchings and Matthew Riva, in addition to Sport Medicine students Madi Hunter and Zach Perna, were all honoured.
Giving goalie Connor Ungar the night off fresh off his record-setting wins against Nipissing, senior goaltender Hutchings started the game in his stead for Brock. While Ungar had started 26 of Brock’s 28 games this season, the Badgers didn’t give Hutchings much time to settle into his first game since Dec. 10th.
While the Blues owned the shot totals for most of the game, Brock was able to get on the board first. The goal coming off the stick of forward Holden Rogers, the first of the season from the freshman transfer from the TMU Bold.
Rogers however helped give that goal right back, taking a penalty that Toronto’s Julian Recine scored on four-and-a-half minutes after the opening tally. Three minutes after Recine’s goal, the Blues added to their score with an even-strength goal that put them ahead 1-2.
Badger leading scorer Jacob Roach took a cross-checking penalty just under 17 minutes into the first, and with the way Toronto was rolling, it looked like Brock might find themselves in a serious hole.
Despite the setback, Brock managed to tie the game at two down a man when Matthew Duarte scored a short-handed goal with two-and-a-half minutes remaining in the first. Unfortunately, the celebration would be short-lived as, only 30 seconds later, Toronto converted on their powerplay, restoring their one goal lead. The Blues left the first period with the lead intact, ahead 2-3.
Again, in the second period, it was Toronto that dominated in the shots department, but it was Brock that would come away with the period’s lone goal. Off another feed by Roach, Rogers scored his second goal of the game just under three minutes into the frame, tying the game at 3-3.
Though the Badgers held on through the second and turned up the heat offensively in the third, the final period would be their undoing.
Toronto’s Recine got his second of the match 24 seconds into the third, ending nearly a period of scoreless play. Shortly after, the Blues took one of what would be four penalties in the third, though they were able to score a shorthanded goal of their own., The two consecutive goals put Toronto up 2-5 with just over 16 minutes to play.
Feeling the pressure, Brock poured it on in the third period, launching 14 shots on goal but to little effect. Blues goaltender Rayce Ramsay kept it together and blanked the Badgers for the entire period. Brock pulled their goalie early to try and force their way back into the game, but the Blues potted an insurance marker into the empty net with three minutes remaining, sealing the deal for the Badgers, who lost 3-6.
Brock, who were tied for first in the OUA last week while holding the tiebreaker, left a lot on the table in their loss. Thanks to the Badgers’ falter, both UQTR and red-hot McGill have overtaken Brock in the OUA standings. Brock now sits third, though only due to the tiebreaker as they’re tied with Ottawa at 42 points.
Unfortunately, the loss also brings an end to the Badgers’ almost season-long home win streak. Before Senior Night, Brock was running on an absurd 13-0 win streak at Canada Games Park before being served their first home loss since last season on Friday.
In addition to Rogers’ two-goal performance, there were other positives in the match. With two assists, Roach added his 39th and 40th points of the season, good for fourth in the OUA in total points and third in points-per-game (1.54).
Though the Badgers have a first-round bye, the first round of best-of-three playoff series will begin on Wednesday, Feb. 14th, which will determine who Brock plays in their next game.
To find out Brock’s playoff opponent once information becomes available, visit gobadgers.ca.