The Varsity Blues men’s hockey team learned a valuable lesson after defeating the Concordia Stingers 4-2 last Saturday: winning is a lot easier when you’re not playing short handed. The Blues dominated the first and third periods, but penalty trouble in the second brought Concordia back into the game. In total, the Blues took eleven penalties, seven of which came in the second period, including a ten minute misconduct to Blues forward Kyle Ventura.
“We talked about composure before the game,” said head coach Darren Lowe. “In the first, we were composed, we lost it in the second, but we calmed down for the third, and to the guys’ credit, they got the win.”
Calling the game a hard-hitting affair would have been an understatement. From the beginning, physical play dominated, with huge hits delivered by both teams. U of T didn’t get on board until the final four minutes of the first period, with two power play goals after forward Joel Lenius took a high stick from Concordia’s Nicolaus Knudsen. This awarded the Blues a four-minute power play.
Blues forward Byron Elliot, with two goals and an assist that night, got things started at the 19:29 mark of the first with a one-time pass from Claudio Cowdrey. Only eleven seconds later, the Blues netted their second goal as Kyle Ventura sneaked one by the Concordia goaltender. With a 2-0 lead going into the intermission, the Blues were in control.
“Usually we have a slow start at the beginning of the game. The toughest is getting things started in the first. We came out strong tonight with a couple goals and it helped,” said Ventura.
In the second, things began to unravel for the Blues. U of T had to deal with three two-man advantages by Concordia. During the Blues’ penalty trouble, the Stingers got on the board. Concordia tied the game in the last two minutes of the period with a wrist shot that beat goaltender Russ Brownell’s top shelf.
The physicality and emotion throughout the period boiled over in the last six seconds, as all ten players fought behind the net, leading to five penalties including Ventura’s misconduct.
“Kyle played well and got a spark going for us in the first,” said Coach Lowe. “It was too bad we couldn’t utilize him more because of that misconduct.”
“At the intermission, [our] coach told us to keep our composure,” explained Ventura. “He told us not to play with negative emotion.”
The Blues came out more composed in the third, picking up where they left off in the first. Elliott notched his second goal of the night as he shoveled a loose puck into the Concordia net, and Joel Lenius added the insurance on a tip from a point shot taken from defenceman Brendan Sherrard. Brownell got the win, stopping 29 of 31 Stinger shots, instrumental in keeping the game tied throughout the Blues penaltyfilled second.
“Russ played well tonight and has been playing well for us this year,” said Coach Lowe.
“We played much better in the first and third when we were out of the penalty box,” added Brownell. “I didn’t have to make a lot of second saves as the guys were good at clearing the puck from out front.”
Defensively, the Blues shut down the Concordia offense most of the night, making it difficult to get into the Blues’ zone, and setting up almost impossible. Throughout the penalty trouble, the Blues killed off ten of the eleven power plays, frustrating Stingers who couldn’t handle Toronto’s aggression.
The Blues are tied with Queen’s for first in the OUA Mid East division with twelve points. For a young team expecting growing pains throughout the season, the opening half has turned out surprisingly well. However, the team could improve on one facet of the game. “We need to work on our discipline,” said Brownell.
