WATERLOO, Ont. – The Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) Bold men's hockey team rode a hot start on Thursday to lock down their first victory of the season in a 3-0 rout over the Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks.
After starting the campaign with three-straight losses for the first time since 2008, the Bold were able to shake their losing ways due in large part to the play of their netminder and a much-needed offensive surge in the opening twenty minutes of action.
Forward Tyler Savard initiated TMU's winning effort by cashing in his second goal in as many nights to give the Bold the lead 4:47 into the contest.
The rookie nabbed his first-career OUA goal against the Varsity Blues on Wednesday in similar fashion to his quick go-ahead marker against Laurier, snapping a wrist shot past the goaltender to get TMU on the board.
Daniil Grigorev doubled the visitors' lead with just six seconds remaining in the frame for his first tally of the season. The sophomore led all TMU rookies in scoring last year, lighting the lamp 12 times across 27 games to help guide the Bold to their first-ever appearance in the Queen's Cup final.
Between the pipes, Ryan Dugas was the story of the game for the Bold, standing tall for the blue and gold to help secure his first shutout victory since December of 2023.
His 35-save performance helped thwart all three of the Golden Hawks' man-advantages in the contest and maintain TMU's early edge. Spencer Shugrue helped seal the deal on a crucial set of points for the Bold with a last-minute empty-netter to tilt the scoreline in TMU's favour by a trio of goals.
The Bold will look to feast off the momentum from their Thursday win when they hit the road to take on the Concordia Stingers next Friday.
It will be the program's first trip to Montreal's Ed Meagher Arena since 2018 and will precede a Bronze Medal rematch from last season's U SPORTS National Championship when the Bold take on the McGill Redbirds next Saturday.
Catch the team's 7:30 p.m puck drop with the Stingers live on OUA.tv.
