Mitch Scott
Contributor
The York Lions men’s hockey team took to the ice at the Canlan Ice Sports rink Sunday Oct. 24 to host their fifth game of the season against rival Brock Badgers. Though York is ranked fourth in the Ontario University Athletics (OUA) West standings and Brock is ranked seventh, it became a shutout loss for the Lions, with the whistle blowing 3-0 for the final score.
Penalty trouble remained a constant issue for the team throughout, as the game started off with many York players sitting on the bench. Strong players such as Jesse Grespan and Ryan Kerr were called for checking and tripping and it was enough for Brock to take advantage and score with four minutes remaining in the first period. Forward Derek Brochu broke the York’s defence and slid the puck just past the reach of York goalie David Blair at the 16th minute mark with assists by Matt Abercrombie and Joey Pell.
The game continued in the Badgers’ favour as team forward Ryan Allen scored another goal just two minutes later, ending the first period with the Lions at a disadvantage.
If the first period didn’t evoke enough physical tension, in the second period a large fight broke out in front of York’s net that gave both the Lions and Badgers 10 minutes in the penalty box for game misconduct. The majority of the second period was played with both teams down one player.
Action in that period kicked off with Brock’s gritty five-foot-six for- ward Dan Dooley slapping home a loose puck following a scramble in front of the York net; he bumped his team’s lead to 3-0. York would also have chances for the net with forwards Chris Jones and Jessie Messier at the front of the rink. In the second period, York recorded six shots at the net, but Brock’s defence managed to outplay them. York’s penalties, combined with their continued inability to capitalize on opportunities to score, left the team scoreless by game’s end.
Though the York Lions fell short of making a comeback, Blair had many phenomenal saves in the first period of the game. In one instance, a puck bounced off the glass of the rink amd made its way right in front of the open York net. Blair scrambled to defend and extended his stick in the direction of the puck, stopping it right on the goal line.
Forwards Grespan and Jaskirat Gill were key to helping the team strive for a goal by increasing the amount of shots at the Brock’s net near the end of the match. They managed to make 14 shots on net in total for the third period, adding to the overall total of 28 shots.
The York Lions hope to redeem themselves in their next home game against the Lakehead Thunderwolves Oct. 29 and 30.
