MEN'S HOCKEY ROUNDUP: Badgers clinch playoff spot with 5-1 win over Laurier
Western 3 @ York 1
The York University Lions men's hockey team let one run away from them on Thursday (Feb. 13), dropping a physical 3-1 affair against the visiting Western Mustangs on home ice at the Canlan Ice Sports.
The Mustangs scored twice in the opening three minutes of the contest, which proved to be the only real difference between the teams in the contest. The loss drops the Lions to 13-12-1 on the season, keeping them in a tie with the Guelph Gryphons for seventh place in the OUA West standings, two points out of sixth and one ahead of ninth.
The Lions got off to a tough start in the game, overcommitting on the forecheck and handing Western early opportunities on the rush. The Mustangs took advantage, as Zach Harnden (Thunder Bay, Ont.) skated in all alone and scored 2:34 into the contest.
Less than 30 seconds later, the Mustangs scored again on a goal by Mark Begert (West Vancouver, B.C.), his first of the season, to take a quick 2-0 lead. A nice lead pass on a 2-on-1 rush into the zone positioned Begert in behind a York defender and he sniped it blocker side.
Frustrations mounted for the Lions after that, and Mike Lombardi (Richmond Hill, Ont.) was called for a five-minute penalty after a huge check into the boards. The Lions were in penalty trouble for the remainder of the frame, but goaltender Andrew Perugini (King City, Ont.) kept the puck out of the net for the remainder of the period to keep the score at 2-0. He finished with 31 saves on the night.
Early in the second period, after Matt Clarke (London, Ont.) crashed into Perugini and was sent off for interference, the Lions got a couple of chances on Western goaltender Greg Dodds (Wingham, Ont.) on the ensuing power play but could not capitalize, and the puck was scooped up by Steve Reese (Dorchester, Ont.), who went in alone and scored shorehanded to give the Mustangs a 3-0 advantage.
Disheartened but not defeated, the Lions refused to concede and began attacking the crease, sending many pucks and bodies in close to Dodds to create traffic. Their efforts finally paid off with just over one minute remaining in the frame when Shayne Rover (Newmarket, Ont.) knocked home the puck after a juicy rebound.
The Lions entered the third period down 3-1.
The physicality from the first two periods persisted in the third as both teams continued to punish the opposing squad. With the luxury of a two-goal cushion, however, Western was able to sit back slightly and tighten its play defensively. Dodds was also invaluable, recording 41 saves on 42 shots, and the final frame ended scoreless for both teams.
The Lions will close out their regular season on Friday (Feb. 13) when they welcome the Windsor Lancers to Canlan Ice Sports at 7pm.
Source: York Sports Info
Brock 5 @ Laurier 1
WATERLOO, Ont. - The Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks men's hockey team lost their fourth game in a row on Thursday night as they fell 5-1 to the Brock Badgers at the Waterloo Recreation Complex.
With injuries continuing to hurt their lineup, the Hawks dressed just 13 skaters on Thursday night and were unable to match the intensity of the Badgers who clinched a playoff spot with the victory.
Five different Badgers recorded multi-point games in the win, including Thomas Stajan of Mississauga, Ont., who scored the game-winning goal and added an assist.
Rookie Greg Lamoureux of Calgary, Alta., responded with the Hawks lone goal, his sixth of the season.
Real Cormier of Trenton, Ont., earned the victory for Brock as he turned away 21 shots while Vinny Merante of Niagara Falls, Ont., took the loss after allowing five goals on 25 shots.
The key to the win for the Badgers was their fast start that saw them score three times in the opening eight minutes of the first period.
After stretching their lead to 4-0 through two periods, Laurier managed to find their legs in the third and broke Cormiers shutout bid late in the final period. However, Brock would add one more less than four minutes later to skate away with the win.
The Hawks will wrap up their season on Saturday night when the host the UOIT Ridgebacks at the Waterloo Recreation Complex. Puck drop is set for 7:30 p.m.
Source: Laurier Sports Info