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The Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) men’s and women’s hockey teams are heading into the holiday break with varying levels of success, each aiming to finish strong in the second half of their seasons.
The TMU men’s hockey team holds a 9-8-1 record heading into the break, with 10 games remaining after the holidays.
Although the team is currently first in the Ontario University Athletics (OUA) West Conference, it has played more games than other teams in its division, which could lead to a shift in the standings as the rest of the division catches up.
After a tough start to the season with a 1-5 record, the team rallied, going 8-3-1 in recent weeks.
Captain Chris Playfair said he’s optimistic despite the slow start.
“We’ve really battled back and stuck together as a team,” Playfair said. “We’re in a position to keep moving forward.”
Assistant captain Kevin Gursoy said the team’s recent bonding moments and victories have strengthened their resolve.
Top scorers for the men’s team include Daniil Grigorev, who leads with 17 points, followed by Connor Bowie (16 points) and Gursoy (15 points).
The team’s penalty kill has also been a standout, with the unit maintaining an 80 per cent success rate throughout the season so far. This has been vital in helping TMU maintain their momentum, finishing with a perfect six in six as recently as their last game against the Windsor Lancers.
Playfair said he is “hungry to win” and that the ultimate goal is a playoff run and a shot at the Queen’s Cup, particularly since this could be his last season at TMU.
Meanwhile, the women’s hockey team has faced its own set of challenges, sitting in fifth place in the OUA East Conference with a 5-9 record.
The team has shown steady improvement, with 12 games remaining after the break.
Captain Emily Baxter said she’s happy with the team’s growth, particularly in facing higher-ranked teams.
“We’ve had some great performances, and the chemistry within the group is definitely growing,” Baxter said.
However, consistency remains a key focus. Baxter emphasized the need to execute better under pressure and to keep improving as the team pushes for playoffs.
“We definitely want to be a team that is not easy to play against game in and game out. In the second half of the season, we want to keep the momentum going,” she said. “We want to build on the progress we’ve made, making sure we’re playing our best hockey when it really counts.”
Women’s coach Lisa Haley said she’s encouraged by the team’s recent play, noting that the past few weeks have seen better results.
“If we can stick to playing to our identity when the season kicks back up again in January, we should be in the conversation come playoff time,” Haley said.
Baxter, who is in her final season at TMU, is determined to lead the team through a strong second half.
“I’m going to be giving everything I have and doing everything I can to help the team succeed and hopefully have a good run in the end,” she said. “I’m excited to see what we can do in the second half.”
Both teams take the ice next on Jan. 10. The men will be playing on home ice against the Brock Badgers while the women will be travelling to Ottawa to play against the Carleton Ravens.
Reporter, On The Record, Fall 2024.
