The Badgers looked to maintain their dominant run through the OUA men’s hockey season with two more games this past weekend on Nov. 10th against the Waterloo Warriors and on the 12th against the Laurier Golden Hawks.
The Warriors are on the lower end of the spectrum of teams this season, holding the third-least number of points in the OUA.
Despite their opponent, the Warriors shocked the Badgers, scoring just 27 seconds into the game. Waterloo looked committed to holding the early lead, throwing a multitude of shots on Brock netminder Connor Ungar, finishing the period with 16.
Regardless of all the rubber put on Brock’s cage, Waterloo’s hold on the game quickly evaporated.
Zach Taylor evened the score with a powerplay goal with five minutes remaining in the first period. Almost exactly three minutes after, Justin Brack gave the Badgers the lead that they left the period still holding.
After a second period of shutout play for both sides, it took over halfway through the third for the Badgers to extend the lead, but once they did, the floodgates were open.
Cole Tymkin zipped the puck to Jordan Stock in front for his second assist of the night and did it again at 13:54 to find Jacob Roach. Tymkin would seal the deal with a goal of his own with under three minutes remaining in an incredibly productive night, finishing with a goal and three primary assists. Connor Ungar was also phenomenal, stopping 43 of the 44 shots he faced.
Two days later, the Badgers found themselves in a much closer affair.
On Nov. 12th, the Badgers returned to Canada Games Park to face Laurier and potentially improve to 11-1.
Brock looked hungry to secure that eleventh victory and came out of the gate firing. Despite pumping 16 shots on the Laurier’s goalie, the Badgers were unable to find the back of the net. Luckily, neither did the Golden Hawks who, despite being outshot by seven, managed to hang in the game.
The Golden Hawks remained on the other end of an offensive onslaught—down 23 to nine in shots—but nevertheless managed to gain the first lead of the game, scoring on a breakaway just under four minutes into the second.
After a number of chances including one right at the Laurier goalmouth, Brock eventually found the back of the net with Jonah Boria levelling the score 11 minutes into the second.
After being dominated in the shot totals in the first two periods of play, Laurier responded with 13 shots in the final frame to the Badgers’ eight. Despite the late-game pressure, the Badgers were able to pull ahead after an end-to-end effort by Matthew Barnes gave the Badgers the lead.
Barnes’ goal would stand as the game winner in a Badgers 2-1 victory over Laurier.
The Badgers play twice next weekend, first at home against the Guelph Gryphons on Nov. 17th and in Toronto against the Varsity Blues on Nov. 18th. For more information, please visit gobadgers.ca