The Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) Bold men’s hockey team started their season on the right foot beating the University of Windsor Lancers 3-1 in their home opener Friday evening.
It did not take long for the Bold to get on the board; 4:38 into the first period fourth-year defenceman Aaron Hyman took a slap shot from the point that found its way through traffic and in the back of the net to give the TMU Bold an early 1-0 lead.
Both the Lancers and Bold had trouble staying out of the penalty box as they traded trips early with Bold forward Evan Brand getting a tripping call at 6:49 in the first and the Lancer’s defenseman Matt McNamara for slashing just 10 minutes later.
The Bold would be able to capitalize on their powerplay opportunity as Chris Playfair was able to tuck in a rebound in front of the net to give TMU a 2-0 lead heading into the second period.
Despite the goal the Bold struggled on the powerplay during the game only converting one out of the five chances they had with the extra man throughout the game.
“I just thought we were pretty sloppy today on the power play,” said Bold head coach Johnny Duco. “It seemed like our level of execution wasn’t where it needed to be.”
To start the second period neither team could find the back of the net as TMU Bold goaltender Kai Edmonds continued to stump the Windsor Lancers making a number of saves off of odd-man rushes throughout the period.
The Lancers would find their way onto the scoresheet late in the second period as on the powerplay Mason Kohn would set up Jake Durham for a one-timer that would blast its way past Edmonds to cut the lead to 2-1 with just 41 seconds left in the period.
Edmonds would continue his strong play in the third period stopping all 12 Lancers shots he faced including a desperate diving save to preserve the Bold’s one-goal lead. In total, the second-year netminder stopped 28 of the 29 shots he faced, a big reason for the club’s first win.
“I think I just saw the puck really well tonight,” said Edmonds “there are just those nights where you find that the puck is just hitting you and with the defense I had in front of me it made my life that much easier.”
Late in the third period, the Lancers pulled their goalie for an extra attacker to try and draw things even. After hemming the Bold in their zone, winger Kyle Bollers skated the puck out of the zone and flicked the puck into the empty net to put a bow on the Bold’s first win of the season.
The Bold will continue OUA action as they start a six-game road trip starting tomorrow against the University of Waterloo Warriors. The puck drop is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.
Reporter for On The Record, fall 2023.
