Playoff hopes end in 6-3 loss to Lions

TORONTO, Ont. - The Brock University men's hockey team (9-17-1 OUA) had their hopes of the playoffs end Thursday night as they lost their fifth straight falling to the York Lions by the score of 6-3.

York opened the scoring with 5:11 left in the first period as Jesse Messier and Matthew Martello found Matt Thomson who added his third of the season on the powerplay.

Just over two minutes later, Brock's Vince Scott (Mississauga, Ont.) and Ryan Stephenson (Belmont, Ont.) setup Steve Mullin (Guelph, Ont.) who notched his ninth of the season beating York's David Davenport to tie the game 1-1.

With 10 seconds left in the period, the Lions Brett Short would find the back of the net for his first of the campaign as York led 2-1 after 20 minutes.

Just 49 second into the second period, the Lions would take a 3-1 lead as Chris Jones beat Brock rookie netminder Jordan Bent (St. George, NB) for his ninth goal of the season. York would answer again with 12:36 left in the period to go up 4-1 on a goal from Cassidy Preston.

The Badgers cut the lead to two, 4-2, with under ten minutes left as Gary Friesen (NOTL, Ont.) and Adam Schwark (Saskatoon, Sask.) setup Kyle McNeil (Cambridge, Ont.) for his third of the campaign.

Early into the third period, York's Matthew Restoule beat Bent for his second of the season regaining the three goal lead, 5-2. 

Midway through the third, Brock would go to work with the man advantage, as Mullin and Eric Toonders (Winchester, Ont.) found Stephenson for his third of the year, making it a two goal game.

With the Brock goalie pulled and he season on the line, York's Restoule would add the insurance marker with 48 seconds left for his second of the night.

In goal, Bent recorded 31 saves in the loss while Davenport registered 35 saves for the victory.

The Badgers end the 2009-10 season at home Saturday, February 13th at 7:35 pm when they host the Lakehead Thunderwolves at the Seymour-Hannah Centre.

SCORING SUMMARY

1st Period

York, Thomson 3 (Messier, Martello), 14:49 (pp)

Brock, Mullin 9 (Scott, Stephenson), 16:57

York, Short 1 (Martello, Messier), 19:50

2nd Period

York, Jones 9 (Searle, Harrison), 0:49

York, Preston 5 (Grespan, Brand), 7:24

Brock, McNeil 3 (Friesen, Schwark), 11:05

3rd Period

York, Restoule 2 (Grespan, Preston), 6:12

Brock, Stephenson 3 (Toonders, Mullin), 11:23 (pp)

York, Restoule 3 (Preston), 19:12 (en)

Goalies

Brock, Bent (36 shots-31 saves)

York, Davenport (38 shots-35 saves)