Matt Dionne | Editor-in-Chief
Featured image: York loses their first game and wins their next four, advancing to the third round of the postseason. | Courtesy of York Lions
It was a busy two weeks for the Lions men’s hockey team, as they had five games in 10 days to determine if they would have a chance to repeat as Queen’s Cup champions.
On Valentine’s Day, the Lions started their quest to hoist the Queen’s Cup for a second year in a row. Standing in their way? The Lakehead Thunderwolves.
York wasted little time opening the scoring, as they drew first blood less than a minute into the game, courtesy of Josh LaFrance, assisted by Reid Jackman and Scott Feser.
However, midway through the period, Justin Bean was assessed a two-minute minor for cross-checking, which the Thunderwolves capitalized on to even the score at one.
Less than five minutes into the second, Lakehead’s Cooper Leitch was assessed a two-minute minor for interference, which Jackman capitalized on, as York regained their one-goal lead.
Things would stay that way until early in the third, when Lakehead tied the game up once again on an even-strength goal, courtesy of E.J. Faust, to send the game to overtime.
The first period of extra time solved nothing, as both goalies played amazing.
The second extra period was inconclusive as well.
Midway through the third overtime, Lakehead finally managed to put one past Mack Shields to take a one-game lead in the best-of-three series.
Despite the loss, Shields was sensational, stopping 73 of the 76 shots he faced.
Game two was the following Saturday; the Lions needed a win to stay alive, while the Thunderwolves were looking to knock off the reigning champions.
This game was another close one to start. York drew first blood in the opening period, but Lakehead answered less than two minutes later.
In the second, York retook their one-goal lead, but Lakehead responded once again a little over 10 minutes later to knot things up at two.
However, in the third, the Lions retook their lead with only nine minutes left in regulation, courtesy of Alex Mowbray, assisted by Andrew Doyle. With only eight seconds left in the game, Kyle Campbell added an empty-netter, which put the game out of reach, as the Lions tied the series up at one game a piece.
In the decisive game three the next day, the Lions were never at risk of losing. York jumped out to a two-goal lead less than five minutes into the game, courtesy of Ben Verrall and Morgan Messenger.
The Thunderwolves cut into the lead near the end of the period, but that was as close as they would come, as the Lions added three more for good measure, en route to the 5-1 victory.
In the second round, the Lions took on the Ryerson Rams. York got off to a good start in game one, drawing first blood less than two minutes in, courtesy of Derek Sheppard, assisted by LaFrance and Feser.
However, the Lions found themselves in a hole in the second after allowing three unanswered goals by the Rams.
Despite staring down the barrel of a two-goal deficit, the Lions kept their composure and scored two goals just 10 seconds apart less than two minutes into the final frame to even the score at three.
York’s offense continued to exploit Ryerson’s weak defense, as they added three more goals in the period, en route to the 6-3 victory.
Shields was in net for the Lions, and stopped 33 of the 36 shots he faced.
Game two was much closer, but the Rams still had no answer for the Lions’ high-powered offense as York opened the scoring just 15 seconds into the second, and cruised to the 3-2 victory, as they advance to the third round.
Their next game one is at home, with a date yet to be determined.
Come on out and support the Lions hockey team, as they chase their second consecutive Queen’s Cup.
