By Liam Stevenson

The Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) Bold men’s hockey team showed why they’re truly made of grit in a determined and dramatic overtime win against the Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks Thursday night at the Mattamy Athletic Centre (MAC).

Despite never leading for the duration of the game, and trailing 1-0 since the end of the second period, the Bold managed to come from behind and snag a 2-1 win in the extra frame, thanks to some late game heroics from first-year forward Marko Djordjevic.

This came in a massive game for the Bold, who were neck and neck with Laurier coming into the game, fighting for second place in the Ontario University Athletics (OUA) West. “One of the biggest of the season,” said Djordjevic. “If we lose this, then we’re in fourth, fifth, and fighting for a playoff spot.”

The first-year forward scored both goals for the Bold. As hope was dwindling in the third, Djordjevic was able to sneak the puck in from behind the net and off the goalie’s back with just under two minutes left in the frame. The other came in the overtime period, where the winner was put away on a breakaway that ignited the crowd, bringing Djordjevic’s OUA regular season goal total to 11.  

The win didn’t come easy as TMU head coach Johnny Duco believes they needed to have better decision making, and to restrain themselves from frustration when the puck can’t find the net.

“We gotta clean up our puck management… at times we didn’t take very good care of the puck and it ended with odd man rushes,” he said. 

The win from the Bold can’t be talked about without the mention of fourth-year goaltender Kai Edmonds, who bailed TMU out of the many odd-man rushes.

“Unbelievable,” said Djordjevic of Edmonds’ effort. “He’s a key factor in our team and basically all of our wins.”

Edmonds was challenged numerous times, meeting almost every puck whilst flying across the net, followed by the cheers of the crowd and chants of “Eddie” from the bench. The only blemish on his night was a shot that trickled past him at the end of the second period.

The priority of the Bold will now shift to getting some rest, in preparation for more hockey tomorrow.

“It’s about being mature and a veteran team that recovers, recharges and refocuses for tomorrow,” said Duco. “It starts now.”

Up Next: The Bold will hope to build some momentum off of this victory with a short turnaround, as they head to crosstown to take on their city rivals, the University of Toronto Varsity Blues, tomorrow night at Varsity Arena. Puck drop is set for 7 p.m.