As the calendar flips to 2025, so does the varsity sport schedule as teams resume play following the exam and holiday break.
With the Badgers returning to action in January, here is where the Brock men’s and women’s hockey, basketball and volleyball teams stand in the OUA entering the new year.
Men’s Hockey – 6th in OUA West (7-7-3 record)
After finishing fourth in the OUA a season ago and qualifying for the U Sports National Championships, the Badgers are in a rebuilding stage with the departures of key players this offseason.
Stepping up in their absence has been Holden Rogers, The Brock Press Male Athlete of the Month for October, who has scored a team-high 11 goals — the fifth-most in the conference — accounting for nearly 24 per cent of all Brock goals this season. Rogers’ stellar play, which includes game-winning goals in two of the first six games to open the season, led the Badgers to a 4-0-2 start but the teams’ goal-scoring has dried up since October.
In the five games that closed the 2024 portion of the schedule, the Badgers only scored seven times, dropping four of those contests.
With big games forthcoming in January to close the regular season, including a head-to-head matchup in Toronto against the TMU Bold — the second-placed team in the division — to open their 2025 schedule, the Badgers eagerly search for their early-season scoring touch to salvage a playoff spot.
Women’s Hockey – 6th in OUA West (4-7-1-1 record)
The theme for the Badgers for the last year and a half now has been their lack of goal-scoring, relying heavily on their goaltenders to keep them in games.
The Badgers have only managed to score more than three goals once this season in a 5-1 triumph over the Varsity Blues on Halloween and have scored the third-fewest goals in the OUA this season with 25 in 13 games.
Of those 25 goals, 11 have been on the powerplay — the lone bright spot on attack this season — as the Badgers powerplay percentage ranks second in the province, a significant improvement from being fourth-lowest as it was a season ago.
But Brock needs a five-on-five spark, looking to generate their even-strength offence which starts with putting pucks on net. The Badgers sit second to last in shots on goal this season with 344 and need their offensive leaders to provide a jolt in 2025 as they look to crack into the top five in the division and qualify for a playoff spot.
Men’s Basketball – 3rd in OUA Central (7-3 record)
The Badgers continue to ride the wave that led to a surprising Wilson Cup Final appearance last season, as that same adrenaline has carried into the 2024-25 season. Brock won four straight games and six of their last seven games overall to close the 2024 schedule, which included blowout wins over Laurier and Algoma.
Brock remains one of the province’s best teams defensively, allowing the fifth-fewest points per game while limiting opponents to the third-fewest rebounds per game — a testament to the defensive-minded identity of Willy Manigat’s team.
Offensively, the Badgers have a balanced attack with only one Badger, Davante Hackett, averaging over 10 points per game, with different Brock stars showcasing their offensive weaponry on any given night.
Brock’s widespread offence will be featured in pivotal January clashes, including the annual Paint the Meridian Red game against the McMaster Marauders at the Meridian Centre on Jan. 17 and a Wilson Cup rematch in Kingston versus the Queen’s Gaels on Jan. 25. The Badgers have unfinished business and look to end 2025 with their first provincial title since the 2021-22 season.
Women’s Basketball – T-1st in the OUA Central (7-3 record)
There may be a new coach at the helm of the women’s basketball program, but the results have remained the same for the Badgers, who have won seven of 10 to open 2024-25, including their first five to begin the Shae Dheensaw era.
Last season’s OUA Women’s Basketball Player of the Year, Madalyn Weinert, is off to another fiery start. The country’s leader in points per game from a season ago is continuing her MVP-form, ranking third in the OUA in points per game (18.4), fourth in rebounds per game (9.9) and second in blocks (19), showcasing her two-way game in leading the Badgers to success at both ends of the floor.
The Badgers sit seventh of 18 teams in points per game with 69.2 points a night while sitting sixth in field goal percentage, hitting 36.3 percent of their shots on 253 field goals so far this season.
Brock looks to continue their strong start to the year in the second half, which includes four must-see matchups against rivals TMU Bold and McMaster Marauders — the two teams on their tail in the division race — as the Badgers look to win the OUA Central for the second consecutive year.
Men’s Volleyball – 10th in OUA (4-6 record)
It’s been an uphill battle for the Badgers this season, with last season’s fourth-place finish being a distant memory as Brock has lost six of their last eight, including two separate three-game losing streaks.
But it hasn’t all been negative for the Badgers.
On attack, the Badgers sit in the top of the conference in many categories including second in kills per set (11.51) and hitting percentage (.256), fourth in kills (426), assists per set (10.76) and aces (56), and fifth in total assists (398).
It’s when the Badgers don’t have the ball — defence — that has been problematic/ Brock ranks in the bottom echelon in the OUA in numerous stats such as 11th of 13 teams in digs (284) and total blocks (55), as well as 12th in digs per set (7.68) and blocks per set (1.47), which explains many of their misfortunes on the court.
Unfortunately for the Badgers, the schedule doesn’t get any easier, as they begin 2025 with a home pair against the OUA-leading Windsor Lancers on Jan. 18 and 19, with two matchups against the second-placed York Lions on the horizon for February.
Women’s Volleyball – T-3rd in OUA (8-2 record)
The Badgers are off to another sensational start, looking to win their fourth straight Quigley Cup as OUA Champions.
The ninth-ranked team in the country has shown no signs of slowing down despite the graduation of last season’s OUA Women’s Volleyball Co-Player of the Year, Sara Rohr, who was also named the Badgers Female Athlete of the Year. Instead, fellow setter Mackenna Knox has risen to the occasion, leading the OUA in assists per set (10.03), while teammate Emily Foest ranks fourth in kills (133) and sixth in kills per set (3.33).
As a team, the Badgers rank within the top three in the OUA in nearly every statistical category, sitting second in kills (488), hitting percentage (.241), points (651.5), block assists (119) and blocks per set (2.3), while ranking third in kills per set (12.2), assists (435), points per set (16.3), blocks (2.3) and serve receptions (715).
Brock’s entertaining style of play should excite fans as another women’s volleyball playoff season is around the corner and the Badgers hope for a long ride to the national championships again.
For a complete games and events schedule for all Badgers’ teams, visit gobadgers.ca, and stay up to date by following The Brock Press all season long.