TORONTO — The Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) Bold men's hockey team fell 4–3 in overtime to the Queen's Gaels, ending their journey to the University Cup and closing out the 2025–26 season.

"They worked hard all season, I know that group cares a lot," said head coach Johnny Duco about the Bold. "They wanted to have a better fate today, but ultimately we just weren't good enough and that common theme of our game, coming and going at times just seemed to be something we couldn't shake this year."

Both teams matched each other in speed and urgency in the first period. With a ticket to nationals on the line, each side played with intent, making clean connections with their teammates.

The Gaels took control early, scoring within the first five minutes. However, the early goal did not slow the Bold down.

In their push to even the score, Daniil Grigorev fired a shot from the centre of the left circle. Queen's goaltender Tanner Wickware appeared to make the glove save and held his right arm tightly to his side as the official blew the whistle. However, the puck came loose and Ryan Cooper put it in the net seconds after the whistle, resulting in a no-goal call.

"It's frustrating," said head coach Johnny Duco. "Another series where there's a blown call and we are on the wrong end of a goal that should've been a goal, but it ends up being a non goal, like the Windsor series. It's frustrating when you work hard and put so much into it when there are missed calls that have that much impact on a game, but we all face it."

Keeping the momentum going, the Bold generated a few more quality chances — including a low-slot shot from Grigorev after receiving a pass from Brock McLeod and another attempt from Cooper from the top of the circle.

TMU found the equalizer in the final five minutes of the period. Gavin Grundner received a cross-ice pass from Marko Djordjevic and skated down the right side before taking a clean shot on net. The puck bounced off the pads of Wickware, and Chase Lefebvre swooped into the low slot to tap the rebound just inside the right post.

The period ended with no penalties, a 1–1 tie and TMU holding a narrow 11–10 advantage in shots.

In the second period, the Gaels regained the lead within the first five minutes, raising the tension as the intensity picked up from both teams.

The Bold managed to spend solid time in the offensive zone and generated several shots, but they were unable to find their second goal. As the middle frame progressed, the play grew more aggressive, with occasional scrappy altercations breaking out.

Queen's extended their lead midway through the period to make it 3–1.

A minute later, the Bold received their second power-play opportunity of the game. They generated several good looks, including a one-timer from Joseph Ianniello and a shot from Grundner, both set up by well-placed passes from Will Portokalis.

Unable to convert on that chance, TMU soon found themselves on their third power play after Derek Hamilton was called for high-sticking.

This time, the Bold capitalized.

Set up in the offensive zone, Portokalis found the back of the net to make it a one-goal game. Grundner sent a pass from the centre of the left circle to Grigorev, who moved the puck to Portokalis for a one-timer past Wickware.

Although they trailed in shots throughout most of the period, the Bold entered the second intermission ahead in shots on goal 22–20, with the Gaels still leading 3–2.

The third period saw the Bold take control offensively. Hungry for the equalizer, TMU fired shot after shot toward Wickware, recording 12 shots in the first half of the frame compared to Queen's four.

Ten minutes and 33 seconds into the period, a scramble in front of the Gaels net led to the tying goal. McLeod fired a shot that deflected off Wickware's right pad and landed directly in the path of Connor Bowie, who buried the rebound to tie the game.

In the final minute of regulation, both Portokalis and Ianniello had strong looks as the Bold searched for the go-ahead goal. The team finished the period with 20 shots.

With Bowie's equalizer, the period ended 3–3, sending the game to overtime with TMU holding a 42–28 advantage in shots.

The overtime period featured high-risk chances from both teams, along with several impressive saves from Kai Edmonds, who made key stops throughout the game. Despite the Bold's push, the Gaels eventually broke through and scored the game-winning goal.

The final score was 4–3 in favour of the Gaels, with the Bold finishing the night ahead in shots 47–38.

Bowie talks about the impact that all the seniors have had on the program and in playoffs this year.

"Brand, Portokalis, Kai Edmonds, Ryan Dugas the list goes on and on, Hunter Donohoe, McLeod, and Liam Ross, all those guys have changed the program for the better," said Bowie. "It's really important to recognize those guys and know that they left the program in a much better place and we just have to try to continue that legacy. "

The loss brings an end to TMU's season, but the team's drive and determination remain as they look ahead to next year.

"For us, the standard doesn't change," said Duco. "We want to win a Queen's Cup and we want to be playing in the national tournament in the middle of March. Each and every year, whether we bring in 15 players or five, that's going to be the goal of the program and we're going to push until we're able to knock that door down."