Matt Dionne | Sports and Health Editor
Featured image: Reigning OUA West champions start the season with a rumble in their bellies. | Courtesy of York Lions
It was a disappointing week for the reigning Ontario University Athletics West Division champs, as the Lions men’s hockey team fell to Brock and Laurier while on the road.
They opened their season on Wednesday in Brock, where they took on the Badgers.
Brock took an early lead, and York’s comeback fell just short.
York’s Aaron Spivack opened the scoring halfway through the first period, assisted by Dexter Bricker.
However, Brock would add two quick goals of their own just 14 seconds apart to take a 2-1 lead into the first intermission.
Brock then scored eight minutes into the second period with a power play goal to add a little insurance to their lead. Three minutes later, they netted their fourth unanswered goal to make the score 4-1 in favour of the Badgers.
York didn’t give up, however, as Greg Milner found the back of the net in the final minute of the second, assisted by Derek Sheppard, to cut Brock’s lead in half.
York came out pressing in the third, looking for a couple of equalizers, but fell short. Sheppard was able to notch a power play goal with less than two minutes left in regulation, assisted by Trevor Petersen.
York would pull rookie goalie Mack Shields in the final minute, but was unable to tie the game and send it to overtime.
Shields, who lived up to his name, made 27 saves in the 4-3 loss.
York fell to Laurier on Saturday by the same score, and are now 0-2 on the season.
Earlier this month, head coach Chris Dennis announced that Shayne Rover would wear the C for York, acting as captain for the first time in his Lions career.
Rover was an assistant captain for the past two years, but will be the leader of the pride this year.
Dennis also announced that he will have four assistant captains this year; Tyler Mort, Kyle Campbell, Sheppard and Petersen will all wear the A for York.
York is at home next weekend, where they’ll look to bounce back against U of T on Friday, and will have a chance for revenge against Laurier on Saturday. Both games start at 7 p.m.
