THOROLD – The Brock Badgers men's hockey team kicked off their 2023 OUA Queen's Cup playoffs with a 2-0 win on home ice against the Laurier Golden Hawks on Wednesday night.
 
Badgers starting goaltender Roman Basran secured his first career OUA playoff win and shutout in just his first playoff appearance. Combined with a pair of second period goals, Brock was propelled to a big Game 1 win in the first round Best-of-3 playoff series against the Golden Hawks.
 
On the ice at Canada Games Park, it was a scoreless first period for the Badgers and Golden Hawks. Both teams traded close chances and big hits, but neither side was able to find the back of the net. The Badgers finished the frame with a 15-9 edge in shots on goal.
 
The second period began with the same pace of play, but the Badgers were able to capitalize scoring their first goal of the game at six and a half minutes into the period. Second-year right wing Cole Tymkin threaded a pass from the corner to veteran centre Tyler Rollo on the doorstep who made no mistake to give the Badgers a 1-0 lead. Later in the frame, Tymkin scored a goal of his own with seven minutes remaining in the period using some nifty stick work to quickly sneak the puck past the Laurier netminder off a faceoff win in front of the Golden Hawks net.
 

MHKY | Cole Tymkin makes it 2-0 with quick hands in close! #WeAreBadgers pic.twitter.com/T6wG1nRsUY

— Brock Badgers (@brockbadgers) February 16, 2023

 
Despite the scoring coming to an end after 40 minutes, the third period was very eventful with both teams trading penalties, and Laurier pulling their goalie late trying to get back in the game. However, Basran stood tall for the Badgers stopping all 13 shots he faced in the third and 34 total shots on the night.
 
The Badgers now look ahead to Game 2 as they attempt to sweep the Best-of-3 series on Saturday, Feb. 18 at Waterloo. Puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m., with the game streamed live online via OUA.TV.
 
BADGERS AT A GLANCE
Overall Record: 22-10-2 (W-L-OT)
Conference Record: 17-9-1
 
Next game: Saturday, Feb. 18 at Laurier Golden Hawks – 7 PM – Waterloo, ON
 
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