WATERLOO, Ont. - Despite fighting back twice to tie their Queen's Cup playoffs opener on Wednesday night in Waterloo, the Brock Badgers spoiled Laurier's best efforts with a 5-2 win, eliminating the Golden Hawks from postseason play.
Laurier just couldn't find a lead of their own when given the opportunity, including a missed chance to go ahead in the final frame on a 5-minute power-play.
After the celebrations were cut short on an early goal due to a high-stick, Brock seized the momentum, outshooting Laurier 20-6 in the opening period. The waved-off goal set the tone, as the Golden Hawks looked like they were climbing uphill the rest of the game.Â
Making his first OUA playoff start, Christian Propp made a flurry of tremendous saves during the relentless shooting gallery, including numerous back-door chances to keep his team in the game. However, one would eventually find its way through traffic on a seeing-eye shot from the point.
Without Propp, the Golden Hawks could have easily been down 3-0, but the team managed to kill a late frame penalty and skate away only down one after the first period.
Determined to stage a comeback, Laurier came out firing in the second. In the first three minutes, Grayden Gottschalk started a 2-on-1 from his zone and streaked down the wing before finishing the individual effort with a laser into the top corner.
On the play, Gottschalk recorded his first career OUA playoff point to tie the game. It wouldn't last long though as the Badgers would get offence from the back-end for the second time tonight to reestablish the lead just 51 seconds later.
With tempers beginning to flare, the referees called Laurier for a hook shortly after the Brock go-ahead goal. But the Golden Hawks' penalty kill continued its strong play with another successful kill.
Then, momentum swung back onto Laurier's side. They had multiple grade-A chances in the middle of the period, including an incredible opportunity for Sullivan Sparkes, who was absolutely robbed by a diving glove save.
The period ended with the Golden Hawks outshooting Brock 12-9 in the frame, but the Badgers still had the advantage on the scoresheet and headed into the third period with 1:29 of power-play time to try and extend their lead.
Laurier killed it off again before getting their first power-play of the game, four minutes into the third period. However, the Golden Hawks could not get anything set up as the Badgers boxed them out and cleared the puck.
Midway through the final period, Laurier crashed the net with conviction. Then a failed clearing attempt was thrown back on net and blocked before landing in front of Chayse Herrfort, who buried the loose change to tie the game again.
Scary moments ensued moments later as Sparkes was leveled in the corner with a check to the head that left him lying on the ice for an extended period before leaving the ice under his own power.
Brock was charged with a five-minute major with just over 11 minutes to go, giving Laurier a golden opportunity to put away a couple on the power-play and seal the victory late in the third.
Unfortunately, the Badgers had other plans, as the Golden Hawks were kept to the outside and their goaltender easily handled the shots Laurier did manage to get on net.
The extended penalty kill brought new life to the Brock bench and deflated Laurier, whose season power-play struggles continued, going for 2.Â
Looking to regroup, the Golden Hawks were eager to lock it down for the remainder of the game and force overtime. But an undisciplined check from behind by Caleb Rich in front of the benches late in the third provided one more obstacle for that challenge.
After a minute of solid penalty killing, Brock finally solved the defence for their first power-play goal of the game and a 3-2 lead with under three minutes to go. Laurier went 3-for-4 on the penalty kill in the game.
Desperate to get back in the game, the Golden Hawks called a timeout with two minutes remaining and pulled the goalie for a draw in the offensive zone. After a couple of close calls, Brock finally sent a loose puck down the length of the ice for an empty-netter to go up 4-2 with 1:25 to go.
Laurier pulled the goalie one final time but the Badgers added one more empty-net goal with eight seconds left to add salt in the wound.
With the loss, the Golden Hawks dropped out of the playoffs in the first round for the sixth consecutive season with the loss.Â
After the game, Manager of Men's Hockey Operations and Head Coach Greg Puhalski described the evening's performance as "inconsistent".
"We just needed more (grittiness) from our guys," he said after the game. "(Brock) were the better team tonight and deserved to win."Â
Despite the disappointing result, Puhalski said he was happy with his team's progress this year and will look for his players to work on a few things individually in the offseason.Â
He was optimistic that the loss will be the spark that lights the flame in the returning group to motivate them even more for next season.
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Players of the Game
Laurier
RW - Grayden Gottschalk
He led the Golden Hawks offensively with a goal and an assist, recording his first OUA playoff points in his fourth game and achieving his third career multi-point game (1-1-2).
Brock
D - Cole Thiessen
After leading his defensive core in goals and points in the regular season, he followed it up with a three-point night, including the second goal to respond after Laurier tied it the first time and assisted on the game-winning goal.
Next Up
The Laurier Golden Hawks Men's Hockey team said goodbye to five graduating seniors this offseason: Anthony Sorrentino, Michael Silveri, Graeme MacLean, Mack Graham, and Tyler Fassl.Â
With over 260 regular-season games between the group, they were genuine members of the Laurier community who put their bodies on the line for their school every night. Although they are leaving the ice, they will always be Golden Hawks.
