By Ariyana Richardson

The Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) Bold men’s hockey team bounced back from Friday’s shootout loss to the MacEwan University Griffins with a 4-3 overtime win over the McGill Redbirds at the Mattamy Athletic Centre (MAC) on Saturday.

The Bold entered the game less than 24 hours after their first preseason loss. Despite the quick turnaround, TMU came out with offensive pressure before McGill matched their pace in a stagnant back-and-forth opening period.

“If we are going to get where we want to go in the end, these are going to be the quick turnarounds, the experiences they’ll learn from” said head coach Johnny Duco.

McGill opened the scoring 10 minutes into the period, with first-year forward Justin Boisselle bringing speed and power to the Redbirds’ attack. However, TMU quickly responded with an offensive push led by second-year forward Marko Djordjevic.

McGill sustained the pressure, though, scoring a second goal to tip the game 2-1, and start the scoring frenzy. Djordjevic stepped up again for the Bold, scoring twice and picking up an assist to give TMU the 3-2 lead.

Alongside fellow second-year forwards Ryan Cooper and Carter Streek, Djordjevic repeatedly created opportunities throughout the game for goals, tallying himself with three points off TMU’s three goals so far.

“We’re a very fast line,” Djordjevic said. “I’m gonna do everything I can to help the team as like a second year guy and leader.”

Coach Duco saw the same chemistry.

“They flew, they were the fastest line on the ice,” Duco said. “They created a lot for us.”

Although McGill held a 12-11 edge in shots during the first period, TMU eventually caught up to the Québec-side, outshooting the Redbirds by a larger 25-16 gap in the second.

While the Bold continued to find ways to score, their defensive structure remained vulnerable with the absence of forward Connor Bowie and defenseman Carson Llyod. These minor defensive miscommunications took their toll, as McGill capitalized on a short-handed goal in the third period. Tying the game and sending it to overtime, the game began to mirror Friday’s game against MacEwan.

For a young team still developing its identity, Duco believes mistakes are part of the process.

“We got a lot of new players coming in,” he said. “It’s not a straight line to success. It’s gonna take some time.”

Even with the late drama, TMU was able to persevere on home ice, as a McGill overtime penalty proved costly, and third-year defenceman Joseph Ianniello shot in the dagger to sink the Redbirds in a 4-3 Bold win.

With one preseason game remaining against the University of Toronto Varsity Blues on Sept. 30, the Bold have some time to breathe and one more opportunity to build on Saturday’s win before the regular season begins.

“The goal remains the same, we want to be a top team and we want to compete for a championship,” Duco said.

UP NEXT: The Bold face the University of Toronto on Sept. 30 in their final preseason game at the MAC. Puck-drop is set for 6 p.m.