Zain Rashid | Staff Writer
Featured Image: Sweet taste of victory and sour taste of defeat in challenging weekend for Lions. | Courtesy of YorkU Lions
The Lions men’s hockey team played two games this weekend, losing 5-3 on the road against the Brock Badgers, and securing a thrilling 4-3 victory at home against the Guelph Gryphons, after a shootout.
The first game on Friday started with a goal from Badgers’ forward Cosimo Fontana, who scored in the 4th minute of the first period. Dexter Bricker responded for the Lions in the 10th minute to level the score. However, the Badgers scored two more goals in the first to extend their lead to 3-1.
The second period saw an aggressive, fast paced game with 11 shots from the Lions to the Badgers’ 10. However, only the Lions were able to capitalize on the numerous chances as Daniel Nikandrov scored in the 2nd minute.
The Lions were only one goal behind the Badgers, going into the third frame. However, Brock scored in the 9th minute to add some insurance. York was quick to respond, courtesy of a brilliant goal from Nick Coric in the 10th minute, cutting into the Badgers’ lead.
The audience witnessed a nail-biting finish, but the Lions came undone in the last minute of the third, as the Badgers were able to score, and end the game with a 5-3 victory.
The Lions played their second game of the weekend against the Guelph Gryphons at Canlan Ice Sport on Saturday and came out on top in a thrilling contest.
The first period saw two amazing saves from York goalie Mack Shields which kept the score at 0.
The second period saw a total of seven penalties for the Lions and Gryphons combined, but neither side was able to capitalize with the man-advantage.
The third saw an explosion of goals as both teams were desperate to get open the scoring. Guelph drew first blood as they scored two goals in the first four minutes, courtesy of Braydon Munn and Cody Thompson.
Trailing by two, the Lions picked up the intensity, and were able to score in the 10th minute, as Justin Maiolino beat the Gryphon goalie. The Gryphons responded with a goal in the 19th minute as Connor Bramwell made the score 3-1 for the Gryphons.
With one minute left on the clock, the Lions were in desperation mode. York’s aggressive strategy paid off as they were able to score in the 19th and 20th minute to tie the game at 3 at the end of regulation.
Neither team was able to score in the overtime and the game only came to an end after a seven-round shootout which saw six brilliant saves from Mack Shields and goals from Scott Feser and Josh LaFrance.
The Lions will play their next game on Friday, October 19th, against the Concordia Stingers in Montreal. The puck drops at 7:30 p.m.
