After getting off to an 0-2 start to the season, the York University Lions men's hockey team returned to Canlan Ice Sports to take on their cross-city rivals, the Toronto Varsity Blues, on Saturday afternoon in their home opener, looking to pick up their first win of the young season. The Lions hoped to get their offence moving early and build upon improvements seen in Thursday's loss to Laurier.
The Varsity Blues opened the scoring just over two minutes into the game, as a wide open Nicholas Athanasakos was fed a pass at the point, and fired a shot into the top left corner over Dawson Smith's shoulder to put his squad up 1-0 early on. About three minutes later, Mason Svarich was sprung on a breakaway and tried to respond for the Lions, but his shot was just a tad too high, sailing over the crossbar by inches. York went on their first power play of the game near the halfway point of the period, but struggled to string together shots on goal. In fact, it was Toronto shorthanded on an odd-man as Zack Smith, coming down the left wing, went bar down on Dawson Smith (no relation) to put the visitors up 2-0.
Midway through the period, with a shoving match broke out in front of the Lions net, sending Eddie Yan and Nich McKee to the box with offsetting roughing minors. Off the ensuing faceoff, Smith buried another wrister past the York netminder, giving Toronto a 3-0 lead. However, the Lions were able to trim the deficit to 3-1 and gain a little bit of momentum back, as Ethan Strik one-timed a cross-ice pass from David Mabey past Nick Surzycia in goal. The remainder of the period looked much better for the Lions, who started to generate a more aggressive offence towards the end.
In what continued to pay a chippy affair, the Lions went to their second power play of their own near the halfway point of the period on an Athanasakos boarding call, and were able to take advantage. Owen Gilhula was left wide open in the right faceoff circle, and went top shelf on Surzycia, popping his bottle and trimming the lead to 3-2. 19 seconds later, McKee raced in alone and beat Surzycia five-hole, tying the game and erasing a three-goal deficit and sending the Lions faithful in attendance into a frenzy.
With a massive second period surge, York forced the Varsity Blues on their heels, and killed another power play late in the period as a flustered Toronto team looked to get back on track. With the score still knotted at 3-3 by the end of the second, the Lions looked to complete the comeback heading into the final frame.
The third showcased high-flying hockey on both sides, each looking for the go-ahead goal. The halfway point of the period provided two minutes of 4-on-4 hockey after another wrestling match in front of the Blues net, but still neither team budged. However, with five minutes left to play, just after the Lions thought they scored to take the lead and had it waved off due to the net being off its mouring, a bouncing puck landed on the stick of Julian Racine, whose shot was tipped home by Thomas Gangl suddenly putting Toronto up 4-3. With little time left to work with, the Lions frantically looked to find the equalizer, and it came down to the last minute, where they pulled Smith to add an extra attacker on ice. Although swarming the Toronto zone and generating a couple of good chances, Surzycia weathered the storm, and the Varsity Blues held on to take it by a score of 4-3.
LOOKING AHEAD
The Lions will look to shake off today's loss and hit the road to play the Western Mustangs next Saturday, Oct. 18. in London in the first of a back-to-back. Puck drop is scheduled for 3:00 pm, with coverage available on OUA TV.
