The Badgers looked to maintain their dominant run through the OUA men’s hockey season with two more games this past weekend on Nov. 10^th against the Waterloo Warriors and on the 12^th 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. 12^th, 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. 17^th and in Toronto against the Varsity Blues on Nov. 18^th. For more information, please visit gobadgers.ca

Brock’s women’s volleyball team got off to a hot start to the season with four wins in their first four games, showing strong signs of building on last season’s massive success, if unfortunate end. 

Brock dominated the Ontario University Athletics (OUA) in 2022-23, finishing with an 18-2 record, only losing twelve total sets throughout the entire regular season. Additionally, players Sara Rohr, Aleiah Torres, Sadie Dick and Grace Pyatt were all named OUA first-team all-stars while head coach Steve Delaney was named OUA coach of the year for the third year running.

In the OUA Quigley Cup playoffs, things weren’t much different with the Badgers dispensing of Windsor and York on the way to a thrilling comeback victory in the finals over Queen’s University. 

Uncharacteristically and regrettably, Brock lost their U Sports quarterfinal match against the University of British Columbia 3-1 and subsequently lost the consolation semifinal against Mount Royal University, ending their season and shot at the National Championship.

Despite the tough exit, the Badgers had a number of returning players—including three of their four first-team all-stars—as well as coach Delaney. 

Coming off three five-set victories in the McMaster Thanksgiving Classic in early October[CR1], the Badgers opened the regular season with a double-header in Toronto against the York Lions beginning on Nov. 4th. 

Brock came out of the gate firing, recording five points straight, but it wouldn’t take the Lions long to get back into the game, knotting the score at seven. The set remained tight from there with the sides trading points, tying the game at 11, then at 16 and again at 19. 

After going up 20-19, York got a hold of the set, taking it 25-21.

Despite dropping the first set of the regular season, the Badgers came right back to respond. Though the early stages of set two were close, Brock started to pull away up 12-7. The Badgers more-or-less held that five-point lead from there on out, winning set two 25-18.

Set three played out similarly with both squads staying neck-in-neck until Brock was able to extend a 13-12 lead into a 19-12 advantage and, eventually, a 25-15 set win. 

Though York held on for a time, Brock quickly separated themselves from the Lions, taking a tight 7-7 set to a lopsided 19-11 advantage. Madison Chimienti closed out game one with a kill off an assist coming from Sara Rohr.

Chimienti was all over the scorer’s sheet on the 4th, recording 11 kills, two aces, two assists and a match-leading 15 digs.

Set one of game two on Nov. 5th saw Brock take an early lead and run with it, not surrendering their margin since the game was tied 4-4. The Badgers claimed the first set by a decisive 25-15.

In set two, York quickly went up 3-1 and battled to hold their advantage throughout the set. Brock fought just as hard to overcome their deficit, tying the set at 14. That was the closest the Badgers would come in the second set. Though they made it close, fighting back from 15-19 to 20-21, the Lions squeaked out a set two victory 23-25 thanks to a kill by York centre Amarai Endes.

Set three was just as much of a tightly fought affair, though not all the way through.

The Badgers took a commanding lead, going up 16-8 before blowing the eight-point spread to go down 22-23.

Despite York’s surge, the Badgers were able to fend off the Lions comeback in an extended set, winning by a slim 28-26.

The final set was much more in the Badgers’ favour. 

Brock took off with a 9-3 scoring run to lead the Lions 17-12. The Badgers wrapped up the two-game sweep of York with a 25-19 victory. 

Outside hitter Meera Sayal, seeing an increased role this season, was impactful in the first weekend, particularly in game two where she led the Badgers in kills (12), aces (2) and blocks. Emily Foest and Aleiah Torres also looked strong, recording double-digit kills and digs in the two respective matches. Sara Rohr led all players in assists in both matches with 46 and 40.  

On Nov. 10th, the Badgers returned to Brock to face the TMU Bold in their two home-opening games. 

The Bold were fresh off of two games against the Windsor Lancers, handing them two losses in seven total sets. 

The Bold picked up right where they left off, jumping to an early 5-2 lead over the Badgers in the first set. Brock was able to tie the set at six, and the score remained within two virtually the entire set. The Badgers were able to string together six straight points to reverse an 18-15 deficit to a 21-18 advantage, forcing a Bold timeout. Though TMU added two more points post timeout, the Badgers took care of business, winning the first set just the same. 

Set two posed many more difficulties for the Badgers. 

The score stayed close initially, but the Bold started to pull away, turning a 9-9 deadlock into a massive 19-13 margin with Brock making several attacking errors and struggling to deal with TMU’s blocking. The Bold outscored the Badgers 6-5 the rest of the way, taking set two 25-18.

In the third set, it was the Badgers’ turn to take over early. Brock went on a scoring run from the outset and quickly found themselves up by a sizeable 12-6 margin thanks to some extended serving runs from Chimienti and Madison Tuck, and a couple high-powered kills from Gigi Markotic. 

Brock nearly surrendered the lead minutes later when the Bold brought the score within two at 16-14. However, some steady play helped them right the ship and bring the lead back to seven by the end of the set, with Markotic and Sayal punching in two straight kills to win it 25-18.

After a game of a bunch of close calls for Brock, set four was by far the closest.

The score almost never deviated from a one-point difference, but after going up 7-6, it was the Bold who were in the driver’s seat. TMU started to stretch their lead, eventually getting it as large as 20-15. 

Nonetheless, the Badgers maintained their composure, going on a 7-1 scoring run to regain the lead at 22-21. The Bold stayed hot on their tail until the end, but Markotic and Foest were able to close things out with two more kills.

After four close sets, the Badgers were able to scrape out a 3-1 victory, despite giving up 34 errors to TMU’s 11 and committing more errors in each of the four quarters. 

Foest led the match with 18 kills, while Sara Rohr contributed all over the scoresheet with two aces, 10 digs and 54 assists. 

In Saturday’s game two matchup, Brock had a much easier time with the Bold. 

In set one, the Badgers led early and by a lot, going up 10-3. TMU clawed their way back, making it as close as 17-17, but Brock finished the set with an 8-2 scoring run to polish off the set 25-19. 

Set two was the closest of the weekend. After the two sides tied the set at 6-6, their separation was only greater than a point four times in the entire set. Despite the closeness, the Badgers were able to secure the set 25-23.

By set three, things were pretty much wrapped up. The Badgers recorded only three errors to 15 kills, washing away the Bold 25-17. The Badgers led the match in all facets, including recording eight aces and five blocks.

Brock got contributions from several players. Markotic and Foest both had great all-around performances, with Markotic recording seven kills, two aces and three blocks, while Foest chipped in with seven kills, two blocks and 11 digs. Mackenna Knox’s three aces and 31 assists led all players, also grabbing eight digs for good measure. Sadie Dick’s 12 kills led all players.

The Badgers play two more games next weekend at Queen’s University on Nov. 18th and 19th. For more information on their schedule and results, check out gobadgers.ca.

In a thrilling match at Canada Games Park on Saturday, Nov. 11, the Brock women’s hockey team showcased resilience and determination, snapping a three-game losing streak with a commanding 3-1 victory over the York Lions. The Badgers displayed a stellar performance, with goals from Madeline Nicholson, Allison Stevenson and Madison Cronkwright. 

Nicholson, seizing an opportunity in the first period, converted a pass from Allison Moore to open the scoring and set the tone for the Badgers. However, the Lions retaliated in the second period, as Julia Cuccia found the back of the net, levelling the score at 1-1. 

The third period proved decisive for Brock, with Cronkwright scoring the game-winning goal at 5:52. Mia Landry provided the crucial assist, securing the Badgers’ lead. Stevenson sealed the victory with an empty-net goal in the final minutes, cementing the 3-1 win. 

Goalkeeper Kenzie Harmison played a pivotal role in the win, making 20 saves and earning her fourth win of the season. The Badgers’ penalty kill unit showcased its prowess by successfully fending off all three York power plays. 

Emma Wedgewood, the Lions’ goalie, faced 21 shots throughout the game but couldn’t prevent the determined Brock team from securing the win. 

Looking ahead, the Badgers, with a season record of 4-3-0-2, are set to host a School Day Game against the Toronto Metropolitan University Bold on Friday, Nov. 17, with puck drop at noon. The following day they will face off against the University of Toronto at 4 p.m. Tickets for both of those games can be found here. 

As the Brock women’s hockey team looks forward to upcoming challenges, this victory serves as a testament to their skill, teamwork and determination to overcome adversity on the ice. 

For more information on the Brock women’s hockey team, please visit gobadgers.ca. 

The Brock Badgers women’s hockey team faced off against the Guelph Gryphons on Thursday, Nov. 2^nd. Both teams entered the game tied at nine points in five games, setting the stage for an exciting contest. Despite a spirited effort, the Badgers couldn’t overcome the Gryphons, ultimately losing 4-1. 

The game got off to a tough start for the Badgers, with the Guelph Gryphons striking first just over six minutes into the first period.  Brock’s goaltender, Kenzie Harmison, displayed incredible skills between the pipes, making outstanding saves to keep the deficit at just one goal. 

As the first period was winding down, Guelph managed to sneak a shot from the point through the traffic in front of the net, extending their lead to 2-0 to end the opening period. 

In the second period, the Badgers looked to find their offensive groove but struggled to stay out of the penalty box. However, their penalty-kill unit stepped up to the challenge and managed to stop the Guelph Gryphons’ attack. 

Building on the momentum generated by their penalty-kill success, Brock’s power-play unit managed to get on the scoreboard with just over two minutes left in the second period. Madelyn Walsh, defender for the Badgers, fired a shot from the point, and the puck bounced around in front of the net. Randyll Strongman seized the opportunity and scored her first career OUA goal, closing the gap to 2-1. 

Entering the third period, the Badgers were still in the game, but Guelph’s power play finally broke through, extending their lead just over five minutes into the frame. 

Brock made valiant efforts to stage a comeback in the third period, but they couldn’t find the back of the net, ultimately falling short. Guelph added an empty-net goal with a minute left, securing a 4-1 victory when the final buzzer sounded. 

Madelyn Walsh’s performance in the game was a bright spot for the Badgers, as she notched an assist, bringing her season point total to six. Her contribution from the blue line makes her the league leader in this regard among OUA defenders. 

A couple of days later, the Badgers faced off against the University of Waterloo where they lost their second game in a row. Despite four goals being scored, the Badgers were unable to keep the puck out of the net, losing 5-4.  

The Badgers are now just below .500 with a 3-4 record. They will face off against Wilfred Laurier University on Nov. 10, followed by a home game against York University on Nov. 11.  

For tickets to the Nov. 11 game at Canada Games Park, click here. For more information about the Brock women’s hockey team visit gobadgers.ca, and to watch the Badgers from the comfort of your home go to OUA.tv.  

The Brock Badgers men’s basketball team made a triumphant return to OUA regular season action on Friday, Nov. 3, as they hosted the University of Toronto Varsity Blues. 

The game began with both teams exchanging baskets, displaying their competitiveness and making it clear that this would be an evenly-matched battle. Kevaughn Ellis, hailing from Hamilton, took center stage for the Badgers in the opening frame, contributing eight crucial points, including two successful three-pointers. However, despite Ellis’ offensive prowess, the Badgers found themselves trailing by a mere two points after the first ten minutes, with Toronto leading 18-16. 

The second quarter marked a significant turning point for the Badgers, as third-year forward Michael Matas and fifth-year guard Jevon Brown ignited their team. Matas showcased exceptional footwork in the paint, accumulating eight points in the quarter, while Brown electrified the home crowd with 13 points, which included two three-pointers and a thunderous breakaway dunk. 

Brock’s defence also came to life in the second quarter, limiting Toronto to just 13 points. As a result, the Badgers headed into halftime with a comfortable 44-31 lead. 

The Badgers maintained their lead throughout the game, fending off every challenge posed by the Varsity Blues. In the third quarter, Toronto made an attempt to narrow the gap, but timely shots from senior guard Isaiah Bujdoso and Kevaughn Ellis kept the Badgers ahead. The third quarter concluded with Brock in the lead, 57-50. 

As the fourth quarter unfolded, the Badgers firmly held their advantage. Players like Isaiah Bujdoso, Michael Matas and Jordan Tchuente made key plays, ensuring that the Brock Badgers would emerge victorious. 

When the final whistle blew, the Badgers had secured an impressive defensive win in their season opener, validating the hard work and preparation that head coach Willy Manigat had instilled in the team. 

Jevon Brown emerged as the standout performer of the evening for Brock, finishing with 18 points, four rebounds and four assists. However, it was truly a team effort, with exceptional contributions from several players. Kevaughn Ellis registered a double-double, tallying 12 points and 11 rebounds, while Michael Matas added 14 points and eight rebounds. Isaiah Bujdoso orchestrated the offence effectively, amassing 15 points, three assists and three rebounds. 

The box score tells the story of a well-rounded team performance by the Badgers, with various players stepping up in different facets of the game. 

Brock’s 77-63 victory marked an excellent start to their OUA campaign as it showcased the team’s balanced approach on both ends of the court. The combination of stellar offensive displays and lockdown defence set the tone for what promises to be an exciting season for the Badgers. 

They followed up their home opener with another win on Nov. 4 against York University. They remained undefeated beating the Lions 76-69. Brock’s next game is Nov. 11 at TMU, where they hope to advance to 3-0 and sweep the Toronto universities to start the year.  

Watch all Brock men’s basketball games on OUA.tv. For more information on the Badgers, visit gobadgers.ca. 

On Wednesday, Nov. 1, the Brock Badgers men’s soccer team gave it their all in the OUA semifinals, marking their first appearance at this stage since 2006. They faced off against the Carleton Ravens in a thrilling contest that ended in heartbreak for the Badgers. 

The game took place at Carleton University’s TAAG Park on a chilly evening with hundreds of soccer fans in attendance eagerly anticipating an intense battle on the pitch. 

The Badgers impressively started the match, opening the scoring in the 27^th minute. A well-placed corner kick from Luca Danesi sailed over a cluster of players, including Carleton’s goalkeeper Tyler David. Defender Connor Carroll positioned himself perfectly at the right post and tapped the ball into the net, giving the Badgers the early lead. 

Brock’s goalkeeper, Taylor Miskolczi, made a crucial save just before halftime to deny Carleton a game-tying goal. The stop from Miskolczi ensured the Badgers went into the break with a 1-0 lead. 

However, the second half saw a change in momentum when a penalty kick was awarded to the Ravens in the 52^nd minute. Luca Piccioli calmly converted the penalty, levelling the score at 1-1. 

The Ravens pressed hard after the equalizer, but Brock’s defence stood firm. Carleton had a golden opportunity in the 84^th minute when Miskolczi found himself off his line, leaving an open net. But Mohamed Bouzidi’s shot sailed high, much to the relief of the Badgers’ faithful. 

With neither team able to find the elusive go-ahead goal, the match went into extra time. The first 15 minutes of extra time were gruelling, with neither squad gaining a clear advantage. A Brock kick from midfield struck the crossbar, almost producing a dramatic winner. 

After over two hours of intense soccer, the score remained locked at 1-1, and the fate of the game was left to the drama of penalty kicks. Conrad Czarnecki and Michael Fernandez converted the first two penalties for the Badgers, but Carleton responded with two successful kicks. 

It was Tyler David, the Carleton goalkeeper, who became the hero for the Ravens, making two crucial saves on the next two Badgers’ penalty attempts. The Ravens had the edge, leading 3-2 on penalties. 

But the Badgers’ top goal scorer, Marc Iantomasi, came to the rescue when it mattered the most. Down 3-2 in penalties, he placed the ball just under the crossbar, levelling the shootout at 3-3. 

In a high-pressure situation, Miskolczi made a crucial save on Carleton’s next penalty kick, sending the contest into sudden death penalty kicks. Unfortunately for the Badgers, a miss on their penalty was followed by a successful strike from Carleton’s Eric Yoseke, sealing the victory for the home side. 

Despite the heartbreaking loss, the Badgers can hold their heads high for an incredible season that marked their best finish since 2006. With a talented squad and plenty of optimism for the future, Brock remains determined to make their way back to the Final Four and beyond in the coming season. 

The Badgers have also had three players selected as all-stars this season. Centre-back,. Conrad Czarnecki and winger/defender Marc Iantomasi earned first-team all-star recognition. Winger Nicholas Esperanca made the second all-star team.  

The Badgers may not have reached the OUA finals, but they’ve certainly left their mark on the 2023 season. The fans can look forward to more exciting soccer from this promising young team in years to come.

For more information on the Brock men’s soccer team, please visit gobadgers.ca. 

Team Canada achieved an astounding level of success in Santiago, Chile at the 2023 Pan American Games.

The red and white captured 164 medals – 46 gold, 55 silver and 63 bronze – which ranked third among all 41 participating nations in total medals, only behind the United States (286) and Brazil (205). Canada’s success at these Games extended beyond the medal table, as 12 Canadian athletes and teams booked their tickets to Paris for the upcoming 2024 Summer Olympic Games. 

Boxing – Tammara Thibeault 

Tammara Thibeault, a 26-year-old boxer from Quebec, won her first career Pan American Games gold medal in Santiago when she defeated Panamanian Atheyna Bylon in the women’s 75kg final. The now two-time Pan American medalist, after achieving a silver at the 2019 Pan Am Games, will compete in her second Olympic Games this summer after a heartbreaking fifth-place finish in Tokyo two years ago. 

Boxing – Wyatt Sanford 

Wyatt Sanford got an early birthday present when he punched his ticket to Paris after defeating Mexico’s Miguel Martinez to claim the gold a week before his 25^th birthday. The Kennetcook, N.S.-native will also be competing in his second Olympic Games in just over eight months and will be looking to avenge the Round of 32 loss that eliminated him from medal contention at the 2020 Summer Olympics.  

Breaking – Philip Kim 

Philip Kim will be representing Canada in the inaugural breaking competition when the sport makes its Olympic debut in Paris. The 26-year-old, known as “B-Boy Phil Wizard”, impressed the judges at the competition to secure his second gold medal of the year, after a first-place finish in May at the World DanceSport Federation (WDSF) Pan American Championships. 

Equestrian – Dressage 

The Canadian dressage team earned a quota spot for Canada at next summer’s Olympics by finishing in third place in the competition with 431.937 points, behind the Brazilian (443.343) and American (450.670) teams. The bronze medal was captured by Beatrice Boucher, Camille Carier Bergon, Mathilde Blais Tetreault and Naima Moreira Laliberte. 

Equestrian – Eventing  

The Canadian eventing team of Collen Loach, Karl Slezak, Lindsay Trainsel and Michael Winter secured a quota spot for Canada in the equestrian discipline after finishing in first place in Santiago, narrowly beating the United States squad. Equestrian Canada will announce next year which three riders and an alternate will be representing Canada on the world’s biggest stage in Paris. 

Equestrian – Jumping 

The Canadian jumping team earned Canada a spot in their third equestrian competition in Paris placing second in the team jumping competition. The tetrad of Mario Deslauriers, Tiffany Foster, Amy Millar and Beth Underhill earned the silver medal and are awaiting the confirmation of Equestrian Canada’s squad at the Summer Games. 

Sailing – Women’s 49erFX 

Canada’s women’s 49erFX duo Mariah Millen and Alexandra ten Hove earned Canada’s first of three sailing quota spots in Santiago with a second-place finish. The pair finished the competition with 30 points, two behind Brazil’s total of 28, as the lower score ranks higher. 

Sailing – Men’s 49er 

Dyad Justin Barnes and William Jones won the bronze medal in the men’s 49er competition with 51 points, behind silver-medalists Uruguay (42) and gold-medalists United States (33). The pair earned the quota spot for Canada, and it is still to be determined if Barnes and Jones will be sailing in the Mediterranean this July in the Olympics. 

Sailing – Women’s laser radial 

Sarah Douglas won her second Pan Am Games medal, a silver, in the women’s laser radial competition to secure a quota spot for Canada in the event. The Toronto-native finished in sixth place in the event at the 2020 Olympics, the best result a female Canadian has ever achieved in an individual sailing event. She is hoping to exceed that performance if she gets the chance to compete in Paris. Douglas can qualify herself for the Olympics with impressive showings at the 2024 World Championships and the 2024 Princess Sofia Regatta next year. 

Shooting – Men’s 10-metre air pistol 

Canada booked a quota spot in the men’s 10-metre air pistol event at the 2024 Paris Olympics, marking the first time Canada will be sending a male pistol shooter to the Olympics since the 1992 Games in Barcelona. Tugrul Ozer earned Canada’s Olympic berth by setting a Pan Am Games record of 240.5 to win the gold. However, Ozer still needs to qualify for the Games through Shooting Canada’s qualification event, but the four-time Canadian pistol champion is likely to do so. 

Shooting – Women’s 50-metre rifle three positions 

Canada also booked a quota spot in the women’s 50-metre rifle three positions event at the upcoming Paris Olympics. Shannon Westlake secured Canada’s berth through a bronze medal performance, but like Ozer, she too needs to individually qualify for the competition. 

Surfing – Sanoa Dempfle-Olin 

Sanoa Dempfle-Olin will be riding the wave all the way to Paris as Canada’s first Olympic surfer. The 18-year-old finished second in the women’s shortboard competition, becoming the second Dempfle-Olin to win a Pan Am Games medal after her sister, Mathea, won a bronze in longboard at the 2019 Games.  

For more information on Canada’s qualification for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, visit the Team Canada Qualification Tracker.  

The Badgers’ women’s basketball team fell 71-48 to the undefeated TMU Bold (4-0) after a poor third quarter dropped Brock to 2-1 this season.  

The game began poorly for both teams as they woefully made a combined eight baskets in the first quarter – five for Brock and three for TMU – despite ranking in the top-five in points per game this season with greater than 70 points each. 

Madalyn Weinert, Brock’s leading scorer and the reigning U Sports Athlete of the Week scored four of Brock’s 12 points in the first quarter along with four rebounds – two on the offensive glass – and two assists. Noor Bazzi contributed with the Badgers’ only three-pointer of the period in the dying seconds to take the 12-9 lead after one. 

However, in the second, TMU began finding some life and rhythm, going on a 6-0 run at the beginning of the quarter. The Bold shot 37.5 per cent from the field in the frame, while the Badgers only managed to hit three field goals in the quarter on 20 per cent shooting. Badger shooters also combined for an appalling zero-for-eight from behind the arc.  

The combination of poor Badger possessions – which led to stagnant offensive spurts – and the inability to hit routine shot attempts, allowed the home side to come back and take the 25-23 halftime lead, a lead which they extended in the second half. 

TMU started the third quarter with a bold statement, showcasing their proficiency and supremacy in all aspects of the game. 

Jayme Foreman, guard from Hamilton, shot the ball lights out, draining four of her seven made three-pointers in the quarter, accounting for 14 of her game-high 27 points. Rookie forward Corrynn Parker – who attended high school at Niagara Prep – added another 10 points, as the Bold scored 28 points in the quarter. 

On the defensive end, TMU defenders had active hands, constantly deflecting passes and irritating the Badger ballhandlers. The Bold forced six Brock turnovers which was a factor in them attaining such a sizeable lead.  

TMU went on a 28-4 run to begin the quarter to extend their lead to 26 points before Brock closed the frame on their own 9-0 run to cut the deficit to 53-36 to begin the fourth. 

Jamie Addy’s layup three-and-a-half minutes into the quarter cut the TMU lead even more, down from 26 to 12, but it was too late. The offence, which shined last weekend against the York Lions and Toronto Varsity Blues, could not figure out this Toronto team’s defence.  

The Badgers were incapable of exploiting the TMU zones – two-three and two-one-two – which led to a poor 10 per cent shooting from deep. The Bold also did a sensational job protecting the paint, which limited Weinert – who averaged 26.5 points per game – to only 11 points, as Brock scored a season-low 48 points, losing 71-48. 

Next up for the Badgers is a pair of games next weekend in Ottawa against the Carelton Ravens and Ottawa Gee-Gees. For more information on the Badgers’ women’s basketball team, head to gobadgers.ca. 

Badgers’ men’s hockey returned to Canada Games Park this past weekend with two more games, looking to add to their sparkling record. 

They were slotted against two lower-rung teams (Windsor Lancers and Ontario Tech Ridgebacks), leaving with a good chance to add to their hold on first place in the OUA. 

Windsor was the Badgers’ first opponent, playing on Friday, Nov. 3^rd. The Lancers, despite having the third-lowest goals-for in the OUA, struck first and quickly.  

Windsor’s David Jesus found the back of the Brock net only 1:14 minutes into the first period.  

On the other hand, the Badgers have one of the OUA’s highest-powered offences with only Queen’s having scored more goals than Brock’s 46. Brock demonstrated their offensive pressure throughout the first, and freshman Cale Sanders was eventually rewarded with his first career OUA goal.  

The second goal came near the first’s midway point, and remained the final goal of the frame, sending the two teams to the first intermission tied at one apiece. 

Brock got at it in the second just as quickly as Windsor had in the first. On a feed from Ethan Simms, Matt Duarte banked his second goal of the season to give the Badgers the lead. Though there were almost two-thirds of the game remaining, the Badgers didn’t have to expend much down the stretch to secure the win.  

Penalty trouble to both sides opened up the ice, but not the score.  

Tyler Burnie notched his team-leading seventh of the season six minutes into the third, but by then, the Badgers had mostly turned off the gas.  

After outshooting the Lancers 12-8 in the first, they maintained only a slight 11-10 shot edge in the second and dropped all the way to a 5-12 disadvantage in the third. This hardly seemed to matter as the Badgers went on to secure a 3-1 win.  

It was both the Badgers’ and starting goaltender Connor Ungar‘s eighth win of the season, a statistic that both the Badgers and Ungar lead the OUA in.  

On Nov. 4^th at 4 p.m., both the Badgers and Ungar would look to tack on a ninth win against the 4-4 Ridgebacks.  

The Badgers controlled the run of play early, and thanks to some undisciplined play, the Badgers found themselves with two powerplays less than a minute apart. On both man-advantages, the Badgers snapped the puck around until they found a cross-seam shot, finding the red-hot Tyler Burnie for the game’s first goal, and Jacob Roach for the game’s second 35 seconds later. 

Shortly after the second powerplay ended, the Badgers pinned Ontario Tech in their own end, generating a turnover that landed squarely on the stick of Zach Taylor in the slot, who rifled Brock’s third goal of the night past the goalie’s outstretched glove.  

Just as it seemed that Brock had stretched the game out of hand, Ontario Tech scored 12 minutes in, and then again with less than a minute remaining in the first.  

The Ridgebacks wouldn’t stop there either. Both teams traded rush chances for the first 15 minutes of the second, with neither side able to find the net until net-drive produced a rebound goal for Ontario, tying the game at three.  

Brock put the pressure right back on after the goal. A powerplay generated a ton of momentum for the Badgers, culminating in Jacob Roach earning and delivering on a penalty shot. 

Less than two minutes later, Brock’s electric powerplay got yet another look, and Jacob Roach got yet another goal, securing a hat trick. 

Brock extended their lead further in the third period, with goals from Justin Brack and Jonah Boria, rounding out the final score at 7-3. 

Following Saturday’s match, Burnie is tied for fourth in the OUA with eight goals in 10 games. Jared Marino is second in the OUA in assists with 11 over eight games, while Brack is tied for fifth with nine in 10 games. Roach is tied for sixth in the OUA in overall points. 

Connor Ungar also continues a season that is phenomenal by all accounts. Ungar is first in the OUA in wins (9), Goals Against Average (1.79) and Save Percentage (0.942), positioning him as the clear top goalie in the league and one of the best in Canadian University hockey.  

The Badgers play in two more games next weekend, one at the University of Waterloo against the Warriors on Nov. 10^th, and then at home on Nov. 12^th against Wilfrid Laurier University. For more information, visit gobadgers.ca. 

Brock men’s lacrosse team’s strong season comes to a finish after a loss at the Baggataway Cup this past weekend.  

After knocking off Wilfrid Laurier in a qualifying match at Alumni Field, the Badgers traveled to Peterborough on Nov. 3^rd to play their opening match of the tournament for the National Championship.  

Brock has the most Baggataway Cup championships of any school with 19 (Western is in second place with seven) and are looking to reclaim the title after relinquishing their 2021 title crown to Trent University Excalibur in 2022.  

Fittingly, Trent would be the first stop on this road as Brock’s quarter-final matchup on Nov. 3^rd.  

Trent found the net first, but their advantage was quickly wiped away by a Jaden Patterson goal, and six minutes later, Patterson added another, turning it into a 2-1 Brock lead at the first quarter’s conclusion. 

From there until the fourth quarter, the Badgers and Excalibur traded every goal. Trent tied the game two minutes into the second, Brock gave themselves a lead again six minutes later. Three minutes later they tied it again, and two minutes later the Badgers brought back the lead. This pattern continued with both teams tied at five until, with 12 minutes remaining, Brock strung three goals together, two from Mitchell Zulian and one from Colton Armitage.  

Trent would add two more, but it was too little, too late: Brock moved on to the semi-finals, winning 9-7. 

Saturday’s game on Nov. 4^th was a much more daunting task for the Badgers, playing the Western Mustangs.  

While Trent was the East division’s second-seed, Western led the entire CUFLA with nine wins to only one loss, coupled with an insane +72 goal differential. 

To make matters worse, the Badgers struggled mightily against Western all season, losing handily in both their meetings, 8-4 and 12-2.  

Unfortunately, there was no Cinderella-story to be had that day; the Mustangs quickly made the Badgers mincemeat.  

Like clockwork Western scored two goals in the first, two more in the second and two more in the third quarter.  

Western added their first of the fourth quarter and, finally breaking the pattern and showing Brock’s first sign of life that evening, Jaden Patterson scored for the Badgers.  

Patterson’s goal was the lone marker for the Badgers. To add insult to injury, Western potted two more near the game’s closing, rolling to a comfortable 9-1 victory.  

Saturday’s loss marks the end of the road for the Badgers. Though not at the National Championship level of 2021, this year was a strong one for the Badgers and an improvement on the 2022 regular season.  

There were also some big bright spots up front for Brock this season.  

Jaden Patterson had a great season creating for himself and others and finished fifth in the CUFLA with 15 assists in 10 games. He was also Brock’s clear playoff MVP with six goals and eight points in three games.  

Though he only found the scoreboard once in the playoffs, Avery Steinbach-Parker was the Badgers’ biggest offensive catalyst all regular season. The Fort Erie product’s 18 goals and 27 points were good for fourth place in both categories among Western division players.  

Despite the frustrating loss, the Badgers should look to come back again next season to compete for the National Championship as they always do.   

On Oct. 28^th, the Badgers’ men’s rowing team captured their third consecutive provincial championship and 14^th in school history, with an impressive showing at the OUA Rowing Championships at Henley Island in Port Dalhousie. Brock finished atop the standings with 524 points, followed by the Western Mustangs in second with 443 points and the Queen’s Gaels a distant third with 277. 

A big reason for the Badgers’ high point tally is due to them finishing first or second place in eight of the 10 races. 

Opening the competition, freshman Charles-Etienne Tabet won his first of two gold medals on the day with the only sub-eight-minute performance in the men’s lightweight single event with a time of 7:58.01. Tabet finished nearly six seconds ahead of second-place Victor Rolland of McGill. 

The OUA Men’s Rower of the Year picked up his second gold of the competition shortly thereafter in the men’s lightweight double event with teammate Riley Watson. The rookie duo edged out the Queen’s pair with just over a second to spare, crossing the finish line with a time of 6:55.56. 

Watson, the Peterborough native, also won himself a second gold, this time in the men’s lightweight pair event with Archer LaRochelle. LaRochelle and Watson dominated the competition, finishing the race with a time of 7:19.43, drastically ahead of the Western duo at 7:53.03 and the McMaster pair at 7:37.78. 

Third-year rower Connor Dodds added another gold for Brock, finishing first in the men’s single event with a swift time of 7:29.03. 

Dodds added his second and third gold medals of the day in the lightweight team events in both the lightweight fours and eights. In the eights, the Badgers’ octet of Dodds, LaRochelle, Christopher Gomez, Maddox Harrison, Ethan Mason, Benjamin Molnar, Dalton Sawyer and John Ross comfortably finished in first with a time of 6:24.60, ahead of the Western and University of Toronto teams. The Badgers – Dodds, Gomez, Harrison and Mason – followed up in the lightweight fours, racing to the only sub-seven-minute time of 6:53.60. 

The Badgers also added two silver medals to go along with their six gold, winning silver medals for Brock in the men’s four and men’s eight races. 

The men’s four team of Jared Boles, Keithan Woodhouse, Elijah Lopez and Joshua Ruby narrowly finished in second at 6:44.22, under two seconds behind the first-place Mustangs. Brock’s men’s eight team – Boles, Woodhouse, Ruby, Lopez, Ian Doctor, Euan Coulson, Flynn Kirwin and Lucas Fogh – crossed the finish line just ahead of the third-placed McGill rowers, finishing with a time of 6:14.97. 

Next up for the Badgers is the Canadian University Rowing Championships where they will be hoping that their provincial success can translate into national success. The competition runs from Nov. 9^th to 12^th at Burnaby Lake in Burnaby, British Columbia. 

 
For more information on the men’s rowing team, head to gobadgers.ca. 

The Badgers’ women’s basketball team opened their 2023-24 season with a pair of impressive victories at home against the Toronto Varsity Blues and York Lions.  

Brock began the weekend shooting lights out in the opening quarter against Toronto.  

The Badgers shot an impressive 54 per cent in the first leading to 29 points. Madalyn Weinert, the 2022 OUA Second-Team All-Star, scored 14 of Brock’s points in the quarter, making six of her eight field goal attempts including a three-pointer. 

Unfortunately for Brock, Toronto also had no problem shooting the ball in the opening ten minutes. 

The Varsity Blues shot 45 per cent from deep, making five three-pointers, exploiting the holes in Brock’s two-three zone defense. Toronto’s proficiency with the long ball kept them in the game, accounting for 15 of their 18 points in the frame. 

The second quarter was much of the same as Brock continued to be dominant in the presence of Weinert and forward Oluwatito Akinnusi. The duo scored 13 of the Badgers’ 23 points in the quarter to overcome a strong shooting effort by Toronto to go into halftime up 52-34.  

However, everything unraveled for the Badgers in the third. 

The Varsity Blues outworked the Badgers in all aspects of the game, outshooting and outrebounding Brock while forcing Badger turnovers. Toronto erased a 16-point halftime deficit to end the third tied at 60. 

The Badgers didn’t do themselves any favours in that quarter, forcing up low percentage chances and going away from the ball movement and cohesion that earned them the mighty lead at the interval. 

In the fourth quarter, defensive prowess took over on both sides. Neither team scored in the quarter until Welland’s Shailah Adams broke the deadlock over two minutes into the fourth to give the Badgers the lead. 

From there, the teams traded baskets resulting in numerous lead changes and an intense finish to the season opener. With the game nodded up at 69 midway through the fourth, Brock’s key players took over the game. 

Weinert scored a made basket and a pair of free throws, as Adams, Angeline Campbell and Noor Bazzi all scored crucial points down the stretch to give the Badgers the hard-fought 79-69 victory for their first win of the new season. 

Following the win against Toronto, the Badgers took on another Toronto-based team, the York Lions. York was coming off a home loss to open their season against the Waterloo Warriors and were eagerly searching for their first win of the new season. 

The Lions’ hunger to get in the win column was evident early, as York’s defence limited the explosive Badgers offence to only 16 points in the quarter and only four from Weinert. 

But the Brock defence was also stellar, limiting the Lions to 29 per cent shooting in the quarter, as six of their 15 points came from the free-throw line. 

The second quarter had the same theme as defensive supremacy was once again on display.  

With Weinert on the bench for the entire quarter, Akinnusi stepped up and scored eight of Brock’s 15 points in the quarter. Defensively, freshman Jamie Addy, the younger sister of Badgers guard Allison Addy, registered two steals and two defensive rebounds along with a three-pointer made in only five minutes of action. 

The Badgers went into halftime with a two-point, 31-29 lead, before they exploded in the third. 

On the defensive end, the Badgers were stingy, forcing 10 Lions turnovers in the quarter leading to strong transition play and fast break points down at the other end. Weinert scored 10 of her game-high 24 points in the quarter, on an efficient five-for-six shooting. Adams added five of her own in the third, making both of her field goal attempts, as the Badgers dropped 24 points in comparison to York’s 13 to take the 55-42 lead heading into the fourth. 

In the fourth, Brock continued their domination of the Lions, scoring 27 in the quarter while only allowing nine points against. Weinert once again scored 10 in the quarter, as Akinnusi contributed with seven and Bazzi with six, cementing the 82-51 victory for their second straight win to open the season. 

Next up, the Badgers head to Toronto to face the TMU Bold on Nov. 11^th. For more information about the Brock Badgers’ women’s basketball team, head to gobadgers.ca. 

The Badgers’ men’s volleyball team began their 2023-24 regular season schedule this past weekend with back-to-back wins on the road against the York Lions. 

Brock got off to a rapid start in game one of the weekend series on Saturday afternoon, as they controlled many of the points in the opening set leading to 18 kills, the most kills by either team in any set in this match. The Badgers’ attacking percentage in the first set was miles better than York’s – .667 per cent compared to .056 per cent – leading to a comfortable 25-13 win. 

However, the second set was far from comfortable for the Badgers. 

A back-and-forth set saw both teams exchanging points, as neither team had a lead larger than two-points throughout the duration of the set. As such, the set went beyond 25 – given that a team must win by two points to win the set – as the Lions did just that by a narrow 28-26 margin. 

Fortunately, the Badgers responded in the third. 

Devon Cooney and Kylar Code – two of the Badgers’ more skillful outside hitters – combined for five of Brock’s eight kills in the set, setting the tone early. The duo led the way for the Badgers throughout the game with 14 and 13 kills respectively, leading Brock in that category. Their contributions in the set earned the Badgers the 25-18 win to go up two sets to one with the opportunity to close it out in the fourth. 

With the Lions on the brink of defeat, they were hungry to force a decisive fifth set. York had 12 kills in the set, the most they had in any set in the match, but sloppiness by both teams – nine attack errors apiece – gave their opponent life and opportunities to claim the set. The Badgers had two separate match point opportunities but could not convert on either, ultimately losing the lengthy set 31-29, setting up an intense fifth and final set. 

In the fifth, the Badgers were meticulous with the ball, registering six kills and only one attacking error while the Lions were sloppy, attaining six kills and six attack errors. York’s carelessness handed the Badgers the 15-10 fifth set victory to win the season opener in a five-set thriller. 

The thrill from winning the opening match of the season carried into Brock’s second game on Nov. 5^th, also against York. 

Just like the previous day, the Badgers were hot early, looking to take control and ridicule the Lions. 11 of Brock’s 25 points in the set came from kills, while an additional seven were from York attack errors, four of which were committed by Dennis Cota. The mix of Badger offensive domination and careless volleyball by the Lions gave Brock the 25-19 first set win. 

The second set was much tighter as the Badgers became infected with the lackadaisical play that York portrayed in the first set. 

Brock had five attacking errors in the set, leading to a low attacking percentage of .154 per cent. Conversely, the Lions had their best set statistically, registering their highest attacking percentage in the game at .214 per cent, with 10 kills and four attack errors on 28 total attempts.  

However, Brock, given their winning pedigree, still managed to escape the set with a win by a narrow 25-23 edge. 

In the third set, poor play was evident on both sides of the net. Both teams had six attack errors in the set which contributed to York and Brock’s attacking percentage being below .160 per cent in the set. The Badgers’ star of the game Jacob Ferland kept Brock within contention for the set, smashing three of his game-high 11 kills in the set, but despite Ferland’s contributions, York managed to pull away with the 26-24 victory and get momentum at home. 

But the Lions’ momentum was short-lived. The Badgers played the fourth set exceptionally well, playing some of the best volleyball they played all weekend. Ferland was once again a key contributor, getting two crucial aces – which was second on the team behind only libero Adam Shapcott who had three – while also scoring a team-high 15 points in the match. The Badgers earned the 25-17 fourth set win to pick up their second straight win to close the opening weekend undefeated with a 2-0 record. 

Next up for the Badgers is their opening games at home, the Bob Davis Gymnasium, next weekend on Nov. 10^th and 11^th against Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly Ryerson). For more information on the Badgers’ men’s volleyball team, head to gobadgers.ca. 

Brock’s men’s hockey team headed up to Montreal this past weekend to play in two matches in a Quebec road trip. 

On Oct. 27^th, the Badgers took on the McGill Redbirds. While Brock has been dominating the Ontario University Athletics (OUA) West Division, McGill has merely been near the bottom of the East’s standings. 

Nevertheless, the Redbirds got out to a hot start, securing the first goal of the game six minutes in. 

The Badgers had a chance to respond soon after with a powerplay and Zachary Taylor made no mistake, ripping a shot top-corner and evening the score to 1-1. 

The tie game was short-lived, however. 

McGill snuck another one past the Badgers in the final minute of the first, putting them ahead 2-1. 

That 2-1 score stuck for most of the second period as both sides bogged down with penalties. It wouldn’t be until just over three minutes remaining in the period that McGill found the fourth goal of the night, and the last one at even strength.  

Brock couldn’t solve Redbird netminder Alexis Shank, who kept the game out of reach. Brock failed to score a second goal while McGill added an empty-netter to punctuate a 4-1 victory. 

The Badgers were back in action the following afternoon, this time against a much more formidable opponent: the also 6-1 Concordia Stingers, who lead the Eastern Division. 

The game remained scoreless between two clearly well-matched team for much of the first period. A powerplay opportunity for the Stingers gave them the first score of the game on a broken play in front of the Badgers crease. 

Concordia left the period leading 1-0. 

Brock came out burning to close that gap and did so just under a minute and a half into the second. Matt Duarte, finding himself with tons of space in front of the Concordia goal off a feed from Ethan Sims, buried his first career OUA goal.  

The Badgers got a big break later that period when, after a Brock skater fell into the Concordia goalie, Jordan Stock’s shot slipped through, giving Brock the lead late in the second. The goal stood despite the goalie’s protests over the play.   

The Badgers looked very undisciplined in the third, handing out four penalties. Brock’s team suffered as a result, losing their advantage in the last moments of the penalty kill. After a scuffle in front of goalie Connor Ungar, Concordia’s Charles-Antoine Paiement scored his second of the game exactly like the first, backhanding the puck into a wide-open cage. 

The match would require overtime to get a final result, but Brock would make short work of that. 

Tyler Burnie and Jacob Roach worked themselves into a 2-on-1 only 30 seconds into the extra frame. Burnie feathered a pass over to Roach, who deftly flicked it over the Stinger goalie, winning the game 4-3. 

The overtime thriller was Brock’s seventh win of the season, elevating them over Concordia for sole possession of first place in the OUA.  

The Badgers return home for another weekend double-header, playing Windsor on Nov. 3^rd and Ontario Tech on the 4^th. For more information, please go to gobadgers.ca.