By Courtney Powers-Luketić

The Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) Bold men’s hockey team fell 3-2 to the Queen’s University Gaels on Sept. 13 at the Mattamy Athletic Centre (MAC). 

In their second exhibition game, the Bold faced the Gaels fresh off their off-season in what would be their first meeting since Nov. 23, 2024. 

Less than three minutes into the first, second-year Gael forward Derek Hamilton got his chance against the slow-to-start Bold, opening the scoring with a snipe off a rush. 

Thirty seconds later, off the centre-ice draw following the first goal, first-year Gael forward Liam Tanner would score to propel Queen’s to an early 2-0 lead. 

Trailing 2-0 five minutes into the first, the Bold seemed ignited rather than extinguished by the scoreboard. They became more physical—their drive to win showing. 

TMU received their first prime opportunity after fourth-year Gael forward Hayden Fowler took a tripping call. The pressure was immediately on Queen’s goaltender Aidan Spooner, with TMU producing dangerous chances with the man-advantage. But Spooner delivered, saving all four shots on goal. 

In the dying seconds of the first period, fourth-year Gael forward Nolan Hutcheson took a tripping penalty, followed by a call on third-year defender Lucas Peric. The Bold showed patience with the coveted two-man advantage, but Queen’s fourth-year defender Jack Duff came up big, blocking two shots from the point with the Gael’s bench roaring in support.

The period closed out with a scuffle in front of the net, a message by the Bold that they’d continue to bring the heat in the second.

Despite over a minute left of their five-on-three power play, the Bold were unable to capitalize and would have to continue their search for a goal even-strength. 

Breaking a scoreless stalemate through 14 minutes of the second, second-year Bold forward Slava Melikov snuck the puck into the Gael net to finally get the team on the scoreboard.

In a similar fashion to the speed of Queens’ opening goals, TMU graduate student Hunter Donohoe would score the game’s equalizer three minutes later. The Bold were back in it.

The third period started as an uninteresting frame, with both teams trading possessions but keeping themselves off the scorecard in any significant way. 

With just over five minutes remaining in the game, Fowler found the back of the Bold’s net, breaking the tie the Bold fought desperately to attain. 

The Bold pulled fourth-year goaltender Kai Edmonds in the final minutes of the game, but were unable to answer, with Queens winning the game 3-2. 

UP NEXT: The Bold will get a chance to impress their home crowd against the University of Toronto Varsity Blues in their “battle of Toronto” homecoming game on Sept. 18. Puck-drop is set to 6 p.m.