Varsity Blues make bold statement with win over TMU

The U of T Varsity Blues men’s hockey team picked up a 3–2 win in the battle of Toronto against the TMU Bold at the Mattamy Athletic Centre, Saturday afternoon. The Blues had lost their two previous games to TMU this season but avoided the season sweep, defeating the Bold on TMU’s senior night. 

What happened

Despite the Blues having to kill off a four-minute Bold powerplay after Blues forward Zack Smith took a kneeing penalty, it was the Blues who had the early 1–0 lead. The Bold coughed up the puck at the Blues blueline and forward Billy Moskal took advantage of their mistake, getting a breakaway and going five hole on goaltender Kai Edmonds for the shorthanded goal. 

The Blues’ lead did not hold for long; the Bold’s forward Jacob Kamps powered through the Blues’ defense to tie the game at one. It was the only shot that beat Blues goaltender Jett Alexander who stood on his head in a period where the Blues were outshot 17–8. 

With five seconds left in the first period and the Blues on the powerplay, forward Ross Krieger went bar down to give the Blues a 2–1 lead heading into intermission. 

The Blues couldn’t have asked for a better start to the second period. One minute and eight seconds into the period, the Blues broke out of their own zone and forward Cole Purboo fed forward Owen Guy on a give and go for Guy’s fifth goal of the season, extending the Blues’ lead to 3–1. The goal was the eventual game winner.

Early in the third period, the Bold cut the Blues’ lead to one. Forward Connor Bowie beat Alexander low on his blocker side, and with lots of game left, the Blues had to defend a one-goal lead. 

Bold’s offense had several chances to score late in the game. With one minute and forty-seven seconds left in the game, the Bold called a timeout and pulled Edmonds for the extra skater. But between forward Peyton Reeves’ blocked shot and Alexander’s saves, the Blues spoiled senior night and left the Mattamy Athletic Centre with the victory. 

What’s next

The Varsity Blues have four games remaining before the OUA playoffs begin. Their next game is against the Brock Badgers at 7:00 pm on February 3, at the Varsity Arena.