Box Score The Brock Badgers Men's Hockey team used a perfect time to play their most complete game of the season. In fact the Badgers (7-7-1 OUA) exacted a little revenge defeating the team that eliminated them from the first round of playoffs last season, the Ryerson Rams (9-5-1 OUA), 4-2 Saturday night at the Seymour-Hannah Centre.
Brock opened a 2-0 first period lead scoring on two of its first three shots.
Andrew Radjenovic's seventh goal of the season midway through the second period proved to be the game-winner.
From the goal out the Badgers were solid.
Clint Windsor made 32 saves, while Brock's penalty kill was perfect as Ryerson went 0-for-5 with the man-advantage.
"I thought as the game went on we got stronger, which helped us," said Badgers Head Coach
Murray Nystrom. "I think the three key elements of a hockey team is your goaltending, which I thought Clint (Windsor) was our best performer on the night, I thought our defencemen did a great job defending the middle of the ice and moved the puck out of the zone when we got possession, and I thought our forwards did a real good job once we got our forecheck going and winning races to loose pucks. On top of that our special teams were good. Our powerplay got a goal and our penalty-killing did a fantastic job."
Brock killed off a key five-on-three Ryerson powerplay midway through the third period to seal the deal.
One player that has really come into his own over the past couple of weeks is first year forward, and reigning Badgers Male Athlete of the Week,
Jamie Kendra.
The 22-year old Markham, Ontario native arrived at Brock after two seasons at NCAA University of Alabama-Huntsville.
Kendra scored his fourth goal of the season in Saturday's win and is part of Coach Nystrom's number one penalty kill unit.
"With last night's loss (Friday) this was a big one for us and we knew we had to come through" Kendra said. The Business/Marketing major who has four goals and 11 points in 15 games this season, has scored six of those over the past five games.
"I feel good out there," added Kendra. "It's nice to come back home (Canada). I'm feeling like I have a lot more time with the puck and taking the time to make the right play. It's been as easy transition for me. I feel here (OUA) you can become an all around more effective player."
The Badgers now close out the unofficial first half of their season Wednesday night at home against Laurier. It's Badgers Care night as fans are encouraged to bring non-perishable food items to the game in support of Community Care of St. Catharines and Thorold.
