The Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) Bold men's hockey team played the first of their final two regular season games against the Nipissing Lakers, winning 5-1 on Friday night.

Before the game, Jaden Condotta was awarded the John Saunders #4 Award for the best defenceman at TMU this season.

The first period started slow for both sides, as each team tried to create goal-scoring opportunities but struggled to convert.

After trading penalties, the Bold capitalized on the power play. Will Portokalis scored halfway through the first period, assisted by the all-OHL lineup of Jordan D'Intino and Ian Martin.

"We had been hard on each other in practice, and I think that's what helped us play well. We treated every practice like it was a game, and since we started playing together, we felt like we had been one of the better lines heading into playoffs," said Portokalis.

By the end of the first, the Bold held a one-goal lead and looked to maintain their momentum in the second.

The Bold dominated in shot count throughout the game, leading 29 to 14 by the end of the second period.

Evan Brand received the puck off the faceoff and netted his first-ever OUA goal from the point, extending TMU's lead to 2-0 heading into the final intermission.

"It took a while—three years—but seeing that go in took a huge weight off my shoulders. It felt great to get that goal," said Brand.

The third period was a busy one for the Bold, especially on the power play. Daniil Grigorev tipped in a shot to secure TMU's third goal of the night.

Despite taking penalties, Portokalis added to the lead with his second goal of the game, scoring shorthanded and unassisted.

"It was a big game for us. I believe we clinched first place with the win, so we were feeding off Johnny and the coaches' message about having a strong start," said Portokalis.

The Lakers managed to get on the scoreboard with six minutes left in the period, but it wasn't enough to mount a comeback. Kevin Gursoy sealed the game with a one-timer, making it a 5-1 final in favor of the Bold.

TMU will take on the Lakers again on Saturday, February 15 for their Senior Night game, honoring the graduating players. Head Coach Johnny Duco emphasized the importance of maintaining a strong mindset heading into the playoffs.

"We wanted to play a full sixty minutes… we wanted to make sure we took care of what we could control, and that meant putting in a solid effort, executing for 60 minutes, finishing on a winning note, and carrying that momentum into playoffs," said Duco.

The puck drops at 2:15 p.m., with students getting in free with their OneCards.