THOROLD – In a deciding Game 3 at Canada Games Park on Sunday night, the Brock Badgers men's hockey team secured their place in the OUA quarterfinals with a 4-1 victory over the visiting Laurier Golden Hawks.
Entering the contest tied at a game apiece in the Best-of-3 round one playoff series, both the Badgers and Golden Hawks brought another level of intensity to the ice in the sudden death matchup.
For Laurier, they picked up right where they left off the night prior when they earned their first win over Brock since 2017, opening the scoring once again on Sunday night with a powerrplay marker courtesy Matt McJannet just past the five minute mark of the first period.
Brock goalie
Roman Basran was unlucky on the crowded tip-in goal, but bounced right back into form closing out the frame with a spectacular pad save to keep the game at only 1-0 in favour of Laurier heading into the first intermission.
Playing from behind, the Badgers looked to utilize a man-advantage opportunity as the Golden Hawks took an uncharacteristic penalty midway through the second. With lots of movement both at the point and in front of the Laurier net, a low shot from
Tyler Burnie found the tape of
Adam Berg before tipping past Golden Hawks goaltender Christian Propp to tie the game 1-1.
Entering the third and final period with renewed energy from the equalizer, Brock's offence became one of fast-paced breakouts from their own blue line, which at the two minute mark saw
Christian Girhiny dive deep into Laurier territory to then setup
Justin Brack for a clear lane into the slot where he snapped home the eventual game-winner top shelf.
Much later in the frame, captain
Jared Marino would connect with Berg for another fast-break which saw the crafty veteran dangle past one Golden Hawks defender before waiting out Propp and sliding home a spinning backhand for his second goal of the game, this one coming with less than three minutes remaining. The victory was then sealed shortly after by an empty-netter from Marino as well.
For the Badgers, Basran was stellar in net making several impressive stops finishing with 21 total saves. Propp concluded the night with 15 for Laurier.
Brock advance to an OUA quarterfinal showdown next with the Windsor Lancers who hold a 2-0 record versus the Badgers this season in regular season meetings. The Best-of-3 playoff series will see first action at Canada Games Park on Thursday, Feb. 25 for Game 1, before heading to Windsor for Game 2 on Saturday, Feb. 25 and if necessary Game 3 on Sunday, Feb. 26.. Puck drop for the Thursday night home game is scheduled for 6 p.m. Tickets will be available on
University Tickets, while all the action will also be streamed on
OUA.TV.
BADGERS AT A GLANCE
Overall Record: 23-11-2 (W-L-OT)
Conference Record: 17-9-1
Next game: Thursday, Feb. 25 vs Windsor Lancers – 6 PM – Canada Games Park
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