If there was any doubt the Homecoming Tailgate Party and Steel Blade Classic being held in downtown St. Catharines would become an annual event it went out the window Friday night.<\/p>\n
A record Brock University crowd of 3,532 people packed the Meridian Centre to watch the Badgers men\u2019s hockey team\u00a0beat the\u00a0Guelph Gryphons in a 4-3 thriller.<\/p>\n
It was the first time the Steel Blade Classic had been held downtown, and Brock students filled the arena complex with an energy-filled sea of red.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s great to see this Badger pride getting bigger and bigger,\u201d said Acting President Brian Hutchings. \u201cThere\u2019s a wave of energy with our students inspiring our athletes and vice versa. Brock is a great place to go to school, but the student experience is incredible. It\u2019s the icing on the cake.\u201d<\/p>\n
Before the game, the first-ever Homecoming Tailgate Party was held in the parking lot of the Marilyn I. Walker School of Fine and Performing Arts and the event was a huge success with a massive crowd enjoying music, games, and a barbeque.<\/p>\n
Director of Brock Sports Neil Lumsden said the turnout and atmosphere for the Tailgate and Steel Blade game downtown was proof the students will support big, off-campus events.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you set the right stage like we did with the Tailgate party and then a game like this with good competition, this is what you get. It\u2019s staggering,\u201d Lumsden said. \u201cThe idea was to build a level of competition and a rivalry with another University that we could do every year for the Steel Blade and that\u2019s what we plan to do.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\t