Arslan Ahmed | Sports Editor
Featured image: Brock eliminates York in game three of the quarter-finals. | Courtesy of York Lions
The Lions finished the regular season in second place, while posting a record of 17-10-1. The Lions displayed stingy defense all season long, as they allowed just 80 goals all season—third-fewest in the conference.
However, as athletes and fans, we know the regular season doesn’t matter come the post-season. In the playoffs, teams are more prepared, focused, and thirsty for a win—exactly what this series was!
Game one of the semifinals was a lopsided affair. Seconds into the game, the Brock Badgers scored on a power play; the reason for power play? Too many men.
However, the blunder was quickly forgotten, as York tied the game just minutes later. With goals being exchanged minutes into the first period, many fans anticipated a high-scoring, back-and-forth affair.
However, this was not the case, as only one team was able to repeatedly light the lamp.
The Badgers pounced on every loose puck, put shots on the net, and showed tremendous effort on defense.
A cross-checking penalty to York lead to a Brock goal, giving them a lead that would remain for the game. With two early power play goals, Brock gained momentum, and Cosimo Fontana broke open the game with two goals in the latter minutes of the first period.
The period ended with a 4-1 lead for the Badgers. York managed to score in the second—however, Brock did not allow another goal, and scored two insurance goals in the third to put the game away, as the Lions dropped game one 6-2.
Game two proved to be a real nail biter. Facing elimination, the Lions came out strong with a sense of desperation.
In the first, the Lions drew first blood as Trevor Petersen lasered a shot past Brock’s goalie Clint Windsor, assisted by Derek Sheppard and Colton Vannucci.
The first period ended in a 1-1 tie. Unfortunately, the penalty issues that plagued York in game one reared their ugly head in game two. Brock was given a man-advantage twice in the second, as York was penalized for boarding and a high stick. Both times Brock capitalized, and put York in a 3-1 hole.
As the Badgers crowd got rowdy, the Lions began to roar. Morgan Messenger put one past Windsor to slash the deficit, and Nik Coric silenced the crowd by tying the game one minute into the third.
Fans were on the edge of their seats, as both teams entered period three tied at three goals a piece.
Despite both teams exchanging shots, the goalies shut the door in the third, and the Lions headed into overtime as the final buzzer rang.
As York fans waited with bated breath, praying for a game three, Adam Marsh answered their prayers, as he scored unassisted. With the win, the Lions evened the series at one game a piece, forcing a decisive game three.
With both teams itching to advance to the finals, the third and final game shaped up to be an intense one. With home ice advantage and the crowd on their side, York opened up the game in spectacular fashion.
Forty-five seconds into the game, the Lions took the first lead of the game. York wasn’t done yet, as Daniel Nikandrov extended York’s lead to 2-0 and riled up the fans. York ended the period with a 2-1 lead.
However, two more Badgers goals silenced the rowdy Lions crowd in the second, as Brock’s Fontana scored the first and assisted on the second, as Brock climbed out of an 0-2 hole.
With a single-goal lead going into the third, the Badgers managed to weather the Lions storm of shots. Windsor was a brick wall and anchored the Brock defense.
The Badgers allowed an astronomical 53 shots on net—however, Windsor managed to save 51, as the Badgers escaped with the 3-2 win.
With the loss, the Lions have officially been eliminated from the Queen’s Cup.
