Playoff Preview: Bold begin journey to U Cup

TORONTO - The TMU Bold men's hockey team is ready to begin their playoff push, starting in the second round after receiving a bye for the first round.

With an extra week of rest and recovery, the team is ready to lace up their skates in an OUA West division semifinal matchup against the Laurier Golden Hawks.

In the final U SPORTS rankings of the season, the Bold were ranked tenth in the country, giving the team well deserved recognition. They know that eyes will be on them and that there can be no hiccups in this case.

"The margin for error is going to be very small. And I think with a veteran group, they understand that so their preparation needs to be at an extremely high level to make sure that we're not leaving anything to chance," said head coach Johnny Duco.

After winning their Homecoming game in September, forward Connor Bowie could feel the buzz created by the record-breaking event. Now, that buzz has gotten louder.

"Going off the first interview that we did together as you know, there was a buzz at the beginning of the year, but I think the buzz has grown even more now. And we're all just getting ready to go," said Bowie.

The team isn't just setting their sights on the OUA, either. Selected as the U SPORTS national championship hosts, the Bold will host the best teams in the country come March. Despite their automatic nationals play, the team isn't letting that hold them back from fighting for the OUA Queen's Cup.

"We want to win our way there. I think our main focus is the Queen's Cup and kind of taking care of that first, but yeah, I'd be lying if I said I wasn't thinking about it a little bit. I mean, that's going to be such a cool opportunity," added the forward.

The variety and diversity in players and skill levels is what can set the Bold apart.

Duco wants opponents to take them lightly so they can cook up a storm. Bowie knows that they can create that storm wherever the road to playoffs takes them, especially when they play at home.

"We have four lines that can all play and all play very different styles. And we're very good at home. We love playing in the Maple Leaf Gardens. So those are the two tough things when you come to play against us," added Bowie.

The history and significance of the home rink bears deep connections and memories for a lot of the program. The squad wants to play their best hockey in front of a home crowd, and want to push for as many supporters as they can to pack the arena. The blue and gold are determined to lift a banner at home.

"I would say let's get as many TMU students, friends, family, anybody in the Toronto area to come to the games. It means a lot to us," said Bowie. "And, you know, just to create a little bit of a buzz or exciting vibe really goes a long way. So just as many people that can gather as possible, and it's going to be an exciting run. So come join during the ride," he added.

Ready for their game tomorrow, the squad is more than teammates, they're brothers who are ready to do whatever it takes to support one another.

"I think we're deep, I think we're ready. I think the guys have really come together nicely as a family and as a group of brothers that flat out don't want to let each other down in these big moments," said Duco. "So I'm excited to get started. We've earned a week off here to get healthy and kind of clean up some things that we think we can and ensure that when the puck drops, February 21, we're ready to go," said Duco.

"We've got a great group of guys, you know, it's a terrific brand hockey, and it should be a lot of fun," the head coach added.

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Players Mentioned

#34 Connor Bowie: F; 6' 3"; 2

Players Mentioned

#34 Connor Bowie
: 6' 3"; 2
: F

Players Mentioned

#34 Connor Bowie

Players Mentioned

#34 Connor Bowie