Box Score TORONTO—The Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) Bold men's hockey team defeated the University of Toronto Varsity Blues 3-2 on Friday.
The Bold were back on home ice at the Mattamy Athletic Centre looking to bounce back after a disappointing 3-2 shootout loss to the Lakehead Thunderwolves on Oct. 30. The home victory added two crucial points to their standings tally while giving TMU redemption following an earlier 4-2 loss to the Varsity Blues this season.
The opening frame began with both teams trading chances up and down the ice in a low-shot first five minutes.
Carter MacAdams generated an early dangerous opportunity and delivered just two minutes later on the power play. Waiting in the low slot, MacAdams received a goal-line pass from
Jack Rimmer and buried it before U of T goaltender Jordan Fairlie could react. MacAdams stays on a hot streak, logging two goals and an assist in his last three games.
As the period progressed, the action grew physical. A mid-period scrum drew loud cheers from the sea of elementary students attending today's School Day game. Shortly after, Bold netminder
Mason Beaupit turned aside a dangerous breakaway and stopped all five shots he faced in the frame to preserve the lead.
"We have a great culture here and it shows and it makes it easy when I'm not just the only guy out there and we have guys every day that want to put in the extra work," said Beaupit. "When you combine that with the great culture and great work ethic and it makes for a recipe for success."
A scrappy altercation with 43 seconds left put TMU back on the power play to close out the first period and open the second. Despite a quality attempt from
Gavin Grundner, the Bold were unable to double their lead. Five minutes into the middle frame, U of T managed to even the score at 1-1. Soon after, the Bold found themselves on their first penalty kill of the afternoon, but a strong defensive effort from
Lachlan Wells and
Crossley Stewart—paired with Beaupit standing tall in net—held off a desperate Varsity Blues team.
TMU saved its biggest impact for the third period. Just two minutes in, dynamic defenseman
Joseph Ianniello—playing his first game back since Oct. 24 against the Waterloo Warriors—made an immediate mark. Taking a seam pass from Stewart, Ianniello unleashed a classic one-timer from the centre of the right circle that flew past Fairlie to put the Bold up 2-1.
"He's an offensive weapon," said head coach
Johnny Duco about Ianniello. "We know the type of player he is and what he can bring. Without him the last little bit It's been tough, so seeing him get back up to full speed here is obviously going to be a huge boost to our team offensively."
Less than four minutes later, Stewart fired a shot that bounced off Fairlie's pads right to
Ryan Cooper at the right side of the crease, who tapped in the rebound to extend TMU's lead to 3-1.
U of T pulled its goaltender with two minutes remaining and managed to cut the deficit to one, but Beaupit and the Bold defence held firm in the dying seconds to seal the win.
TMU outshot U of T 34-26 in a complete team effort. The Bold prepare for their next matchup against the Windsor Lancers on Saturday, Nov. 7 at 4:00 p.m. Fans can stream the action live on OUA.tv.
