Despite a second-period effort by the York Lions, the Badgers held on for its first win of 2025.

The Brock Badgers men's hockey team defeated the York Lions 5-2 on Thursday, Jan. 16 at Canada Games Park to kick start a three-game home stand.

Ryan Stepien led the Badgers as he had a point on each goal to finish with a career high of five.

Stepien, Bradon Caruso, Riley Gannon, Jordan Stock and Cole Tymkin each scored a goal for the Badgers in the victory.

Brock opened the game, scoring just over a minute in from Caruso and added to their lead with Stock scoring on the power play.

The York Lions evaporated the Badgers' early lead with two goals in the first nine minutes of the second period. Tymkin scored the go-ahead goal on the power play with Gannon getting an insurance marker 30 seconds later.

Stepien capped off his five-point night, putting in a late third-period empty-net goal to clinch the Badgers a 5-2 win.

With 28 shots, the Badgers led the Lions by six who had 22.

Second-year Brock goaltender Will Hambley made 20 saves in the contest.

Up next, the Brock Badgers face off against the Western Mustangs at Canada Games Park on Saturday, Jan. 18 at 2 p.m. The game will be available on OUA.tv. Tickets are also available at brocku.universitytickets.com. These teams last played earlier this season on Oct. 10, 2024 which saw the Badgers fall 5-4 in a shootout.