The York University Lions men's hockey team began the final weekend of regular season play on Friday night hosting the Concordia Stingers. Concordia is ranked No. 7 in the nation, a drop from No. 3 after a 5-1 loss to the Ontario Tech Ridgebacks on Saturday.
The Lions played the Stingers strong through 40 minutes of their previous meeting in Montreal in the final game of the fall term on Nov. 30. York scored first courtesy of Keeton Oakley and only trailed 2-1 after two before running out of steam on the second day of a back-to-back and surrendering six in the third. The Lions were going to be in tough once again in this one against a Stinger team with only three regulation losses all season.
York had a great chance early thanks to Olivier Lamothe, who got in behind the Concordia defence on a partial breakaway, but had the puck knocked off his stick. The Stingers carried the play for the majority of the frame, hemming the Lions in their own zone for extended periods of time on several occasions. They were eventually rewarded with 6:12 left when Isiah Campbell potted a rebound in front off a Nathan Lavoie point shot. That made it 1-0 Concordia, a lead they would maintain after 20.
The second period saw the home side come out much quicker, as they were able to limit the Stingers offensive zone time early. The Lions played a much more aggressive game on both sides of the puck, looking to pressure the Stingers on entry and get their forecheck going against the stingiest team in the OUA.
Both teams had ten-bell chances in the period, but neither converted. First, Matt Tovell absolutely robbed Danel Agostino, sliding post-to-post to keep it a one-goal game. Then, York's Harry Clark broke up a pass and was off to the races, but couldn't beat Nikolas Hurtubise, as he went forehand-backhand and put it just wide. With that, Concordia took its 1-0 lead to the third.
The Stingers doubled the lead midway through the final stanza. After a high aerial into the offensive zone, the puck eventually ended up on the stick of Charles Savoie in the left circle, and he snapped a shot past Tovell, making it 2-0 in favour of the visitors.
The Lions struggled to generate offence in the attacking zone against a lockdown Stingers team protecting its two-goal lead. York was held to just three shots in the final period, as Concordia took this one 2-0.
Tovell was excellent in goal for the hosts, turning aside 36 of 38 shots in a losing effort.
LOOKING AHEAD:
The Lions conclude the 2024-25 regular season Saturday afternoon against the other Montreal-based squad, the McGill Redbirds on senior day, where the two graduating Lions will be honoured in a pre-game ceremony. Puck drop is slated for 3:15 pm.
