{"id":80625,"date":"2022-09-23T22:37:20","date_gmt":"2022-09-24T02:37:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/brocku.ca\/brock-news\/?p=80625"},"modified":"2022-09-29T21:54:26","modified_gmt":"2022-09-30T01:54:26","slug":"badgers-celebrate-return-of-steel-blade-with-win-over-gryphons","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/brocku.ca\/brock-news\/2022\/09\/badgers-celebrate-return-of-steel-blade-with-win-over-gryphons\/","title":{"rendered":"Badgers celebrate return of Steel Blade with win over Gryphons"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Brock men\u2019s hockey team made a triumphant return to downtown St. Catharines on Friday, Sept. 23.<\/p>\n

The Badgers defeated the Guelph Gryphons 6-2 to capture the 22nd Steel Blade Classic in front of 3,500 fans at the Meridian Centre. The win marked the first Steel Blade game since 2019.<\/p>\n

The crowd was brought to its feet midway through the first frame when defenceman Jake Cella opened the scoring with a laser beam shot from the blue line.<\/p>\n

Cella said his first Steel Blade experience didn\u2019t disappoint.<\/p>\n

\u201cI closed my eyes, said a prayer, looked up and the puck was in the net. It was an out-of-body experience,\u201d said Cella, a second-year Business student from Woodbridge. \u201cScoring a goal in my first Steel Blade game was the best feeling I\u2019ve ever felt. I don\u2019t know how to describe it.\u201d<\/p>\n

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A crowd of 3,500 fans packed the Meridian Centre for the 22nd Steel Blade Classic hockey game.<\/p><\/div>\n

Christian Girhiny, Christophe Cote, Jordan Stock, Jacob Roach and Frankie Pucci each added a goal for the Badgers.<\/p>\n

For Guelph, Luke Kutkevicius broke Brock goalie Mario Peccia\u2019s bid for a shutout in the second period.<\/p>\n

The Badgers outshot the Gryphons 37-23, which included a 19-5 second period flurry by the Badgers\u2019 offence.<\/p>\n

\u201cI knew coming in it was a special event, but it hit home when I stood out on the bench and felt the energy of the crowd,\u201d said head coach T.J. Manastersky. \u201cThe Steel Blade event is a lot bigger than our team. It\u2019s a part of the University, the Niagara region and the historical significance of the sword. It\u2019s all bigger than us.\u201d<\/p>\n

In its 17-year history, the Badgers have raised the Steel Blade trophy \u2014 a sword carried by sergeants of the Upper Canada Artillery Units and Royal Artillery during the War of 1812 \u2014 12 times, including six consecutive years.<\/p>\n

Brock\u2019s exhibition record is now 2-1-0. The Steel Blade Classic was Guelph\u2019s first game of the season.<\/p>\n

\u201cWin or lose, this game is always exciting. That\u2019s the beauty of this game. The competition between our schools goes back a long time, especially at the Steel Blade Classic,\u201d said Guelph head coach Shawn Camp. \u201cThe event has grown into a great deal of importance for Brock, but also our team as well. We\u2019re thankful to be involved in a top-shelf production like Steel Blade. It gives our players a real taste of what OUA hockey can be.\u201d<\/p>\n

During the event, Melissa Krist, Executive Director, Brock Sports and Recreation, presented a donation of $2,500 from ticket sales to the Brock University Students\u2019 Union (BUSU) Food First Program, a resource for students aimed to address the growing issues of food and health insecurity among Canadian post-secondary students.<\/p>\n\n\t