The St. Thomas University Tommies fell short with a final score of 5-4 to the University of Prince Edward Island Panthers Nov. 25 at the Grant Harvey Centre.
Despite an evenly matched back and forth game, the final score was in favor of the Panthers.
The first period started off relatively slow with little chances for either the Panthers or the Tommies to score.
Near the end of the first, the Tommies received a penalty leaving them short-handed. With only 4:37 seconds remaining in the period, the Panthers Casey Babineau took a shot from the blue-line that earned his team a spot on the score board, making it 1-0.
This goal however did not discourage the Tommies as they continued to push hard for the remaining period.
With only three minutes left, STU’s defense Spencer MacDonald made a huge defensive play that shut down a major scoring opportunity for the Panthers, keeping his team in the game.
By the end of the first period the Panthers managed to keep there one-goal lead with the score at 1-0 when the buzzer sounded.
The Tommies showed up strong in the second period continuing to push, offensively and defensively. At 17:13 in the period, STU’s goalie Tyson Teichmann made an impeccable save, sacrificing his body by being stepped on by Panthers crashing into the net. After consultation with a Tommies coach, Teichmann decided to remain in the game.
Back and forth plays continued to unravel and five minutes into the second, STU managed once again to get themselves into penalty trouble.
The Tommies seemed unaffected by the penalty as Jason Cameron raced down the ice on a breakaway. Cameron missed wide on his first shot but manages to put the puck in the back of the net on the second, tying the game at 1-1.
St. Thomas continued to push hard in the later-half of the second period.
With 7:38 remaining, the Tommies efforts were rewarded. Shane McColgan got a breakaway and scored his team’s second short-handed goal of the night, making it 2-1 for STU.
Shortly after the Tommies lead, UPEI responded with a burst of energy to tie up the game, 2-2.
STU’s goalie skated off the ice due to an injury. Teichmann was replaced by Luke Lee-Knight who stayed in nets for the remainder of the game. The second period ended shortly after with the game still tied at 2-2.
Only 48 seconds into the third period the Panthers Brent Andrews scored on a power play giving them a one goal lead making it 3-2 UPEI.
Shortly after their goal, UPEI got a penalty and STU took the opportunity to take advantage. Tommies Colin Martin skated down center ice and put the puck in the back of the net, tying the game 3-3.
Back and forth plays continued when at 10:58 the Panthers Spencer Metcalfe scored a goal making it 4-3. The Tommies quickly responded at 10:43 when JC Campagna put the puck in the top left corner, tying the game at four-all.
Despite their amazing efforts, STU ended up falling to the Panthers who scored once more late in the third, ending the game 5-4.
