Hockey tradition back on ice after three-year absence

Friday was a red-letter night for the Brock University men’s hockey team, and those letters were writ especially large.

An announced crowd of 3,500 at Meridian Centre in St. Catharines, nearly triple the capacity of Brock’s new arena at Canada Games Park in Thorold, watched as the host Badgers tripled Guelph 6-2 in the Steel Blade Classic.

Jake Cella, Christian Girhiny, Christophe Cote, Jordan Stock, Jacob Roach and Frankie Pucci each scored a goal in the exhibition game and Mario Peccia made 23 saves to give incoming head coach T.J. Manastersky his second win in as many nights.

It was the first Steel Blade Classic since 2019. The pandemic cancelled the preseason game, which is held annually at the region’s largest arena to coincide with homecoming activities at the university, for the past two years.

“I 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,” Manastersky said. “The Steel Blade event is a lot bigger than our team. It’s a part of the university, the Niagara region and the historical significance of the sword.

“It’s all bigger than us.”

Besides earning bragging rights in their conference rivalry, the Badgers won the Steel Blade, a replica of a sword that dates back to 1803 and was carried by sergeants in Royal Artillery and Upper Canada units during the War of 1812.

With the win, Brock avenged a 4-1 loss to the Gryphons when the Steel Blade Classic was last played three years ago. It was the Badgers’ 12th win in a series that has now been played 17 times.

Longtime Brock supporter Ed Werner came up with the idea for the Steel Blade as a way to promote men’s hockey while also recognizing historical connections to the university’s history.

Brock outshot Guelph 37-23, including by a 19-5 margin in the second period.

Brock improved to 2-1 while Guelph was playing its first preseason game.

“Win or lose, this game is always exciting,” Guelph head coach Shawn Camp said. “The competition between our schools goes back a long time, especially at the Steel Blade Classic. The event has grown into a great deal of importance for Brock, but also our team as well.

“It gives our players a real taste of what OUA (Ontario University Athletics) hockey can be.”

Athletic director Melissa Krist presented a donation of $2,500 from ticket sales to the Brock University studentsunion Food First program. A resource for students, the program addresses the growing issues of food…