Brandon Frattaroli’s late game-winner leads the McGill Redbirds to a 3-2 win over the TMU Bold, claiming the national bronze for their first U SPORTS podium finish since the 2013-14 season.
With under a minute and a half left in regulation, Scott Walford’s cross-seam pass found a charging Frattaroli who deked around Bold goaltender Kai Edmonds, scoring the bronze medal winning goal.
“So happy for a bronze medal this year,” said Frattaroli in a postgame interview with The Brock Press. “[Walford] saw me back door and he makes great plays every game. I expect him to make that pass to me … I found a way to put it in.”
Frattaroli’s game-winner was the second of two goals the Pierrefonds, Quebec-native scored in the game, both assisted by Walford, the OUA East first-team all-star.
After Jackson Doherty’s one-time slap shot rifled through Redbirds’ goalie Alexis Shank giving TMU a 2-1 lead in the third, Frattaroli pounced on a loose puck in the crease, kickstarting the McGill comeback – something they’ve done all tournament long.
In the quarterfinals against UBC, the Redbirds came back from one down to win, while in the semifinals versus UQTR, McGill scored three consecutive goals after being down two, before losing 5-4.
“Resilience in the group is something that’s grown over time,” said McGill head coach and OUA East Coach of the Year, David Urquhart. “Maybe last year or a couple years ago we weren’t able to rebound from those situations. This year and specifically today, they were able to do it. And I’m incredibly proud of the guys. They showed character, resilience and were rewarded.”
Stephane Huard scored McGill’s first goal of the game with under five seconds left in the first period, levelling the game at one after TMU’s Elijah Roberts scored the game’s opening goal early in the first period.
“We were looking for a spark. I got the chance and I put it in,” said Huard postgame.
“It feels good [to get a medal]. We can be proud of ourselves. We play as a family and I’m very proud of the group I’ve been part of this year.”
The win marks the Redbirds’ seventh podium finish in tournament history – one gold, one silver and five bronze – and their second bronze medal of the season after beating the Brock Badgers in the OUA bronze medal game.
McGill will be looking to add to their U SPORTS medal count next season when the tournament heads to Ottawa in 2025.
For more information on U SPORTS men’s hockey, head to usports.ca.
