A Year in Review

Men’s Hockey

Record: 13-14-1 (6th place - OUA West)

Top Performers: Thomas Stajan, Sean Jones, Isaac Smeltzer, Matt Abercrombie, Derek Brochu, Kurt Jory

Seniors: Ryan Allen (5th Year), Isaac Smeltzer (4th), Derek Brochu (4th), Kurt Jory (4th), Dan Dooley (4th), Steve Miller (4th)

The Men’s Hockey team had a Jekyll and Hyde season, posting a dominant 10-4 record at home, but failing to replicate that success on the road, as evidenced by a 3-10 record away from the Seymour-Hannah Centre.

The team captured the school’s fifth Steel Blade championship to start the season, downing the 2010 Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) champion Saint Mary’s Huskies. The success didn’t immediately translate to the regular season as it took the Badgers until January to string together a solid month of Hockey.

The highlight of the season for the Badgers was taking part in the inaugural Ontario University Athletics (OUA) Outdoor Classic, a game played against the Waterloo Warriors in the middle of Ivor Wynne Stadium in Hamilton. The Badgers lost, but exacted revenge on the Warriors by eliminating them in the first round of the OUA playoffs.

The Badgers were knocked off in the second round by the Western Mustangs, sunk by a goal with less than 10 seconds remaining in the third period.

Women’s Hockey

Record: 12-13-1 (8th place - OUA)

Top Performers: Jessica Fickel, Leigh Vanderveen, Kristen Dewsbury, Hailey Webb, Maja Samborski

Seniors: Maja Samborski (4th), Courtney Stevens (4th), Amber Wilson (4th), Kristen Dewsbury (4th), Hailey Webb (4th)

Nothing came easy to the Women’s Hockey team in 2011-12. The team took until the final game of the regular season to clinch a playoff spot, and with a flair for the dramatic, did so in shootout.

The win gave the Badgers a 12-14 record on the season, which earned them a matchup against the No. 1 ranked Wilfred Laurier Golden Hawks in the opening round of the playoffs. The Hawks swept the Badgers in two games by a combined score of 9-3.

On a positive note, the Women’s team also had the experience of playing in the Outdoor Classic in Hamilton. The Badgers overcame a 2-1 deficit to eventually defeat the UOIT Ridgebacks by a score of 3-2.

Men’s Basketball

Record: 10-12 (5th Place - OUA West)

Top Performers: Jameson Tipping, Mark Gibson, Tshing Kasamba, Didi Mukendi, Andrew Kraus, Brian Nahimana

Seniors: Andrew Ferguson (5th), Andrew Kraus (5th), Jay Fleming (5th), Mark Gibson (4th), CJ Smith (4th)

Brock hosted the RBC Brock Classic in October, a pre-season tournament that welcomed Acadia, Saskatchewan and Laurentian to Brock. The Badgers went 2-1, dropping the lone game to Saskatchewan.

The Badgers got off to one of the most successful starts in team history, winning seven of their first nine games. The Badgers could not sustain the performance, however. Brock won only three of the final 13 games. Injuries played a large role this season, with several starters missing significant time.

The funk continued into the playoffs as the Badgers lost their opening round match-up to Windsor by a score of 88-80.

Women’s Basketball

Final Record: 15-7 (2nd Place - OUA West)

Top Performers: Nicole Rosenkranz, Samantha de Jong, Emily McKay, Andrea Polischuk, Jessica Del Signore, Devyn Cuncic

Seniors: Devyn Cuncic (5th), Emily McKay (4th), Jessica Del Signore (4th), Tara Giallonardo (4th), Sarah Mallen (4th)

The Women’s Basketball team had their most successful season in years. The girls started the season on a tear, going undefeated through the first nine games and earning a CIS national ranking. The team struggled a little in the second-half, but still finished the regular season with a 15-7 record.

The Badgers ended up losing in the OUA semi-finals to the No. 6 ranked Ottawa Gee Gees, but managed to upset the No. 5 ranked Carleton Ravens for the OUA Bronze medal. That win sent the Badgers to the CIS West Regional, a tournament that determined which teams would sneak into the CIS Final Eight.

The Badgers defeated the Saskatchewan Huskies 66-62 to make it to the West Regional Final, but lost to the No. 1 ranked Regina Cougars, ending Brock’s season as the team was not selected as a wild card for the CIS Final Eight.

Men’s Lacrosse

Record: 8-2 (2nd Place - CUFLA West), Baggataway Cup Finalists

Top Performers: Clark Robinson, Jordan Weedmark, Cameron Watts, Gregory Davidson, Craig England

Seniors: Mack Abbott (6th), Mark Farthing (5th), James Cassells (5th), Mike Bentivegna (4th), Clark Robinson (4th), Daniel Fyfe (4th), Kyle Kropman (4th), Jordan Weedmark (4th)

The Men’s Lacrosse team has absolutely owned the Baggataway Cup, winning the prize a total of 18 times since 1986. However, the Badgers have now lost in the CUFLA Final in each of the past two seasons.

Last season the Badgers lost to the McMaster Marauders, but the Badgers returned the favour this season by eliminating the Marauders from the playoffs. Unfortunately, the Badgers will have another demon to exorcise next season as the Bishop’s Gaiters kept the Baggataway Cup from its unofficial home for the second straight year. The Gaiters beat the Badgers 11-6, stymieing one of the top ranked offences in the country.   

Men’s Soccer

Record: 5-8-3 (6th Place, OUA West)

Top Performers: Sammy Orlando, Aaron Walsh, Erik Van Wissen, Ryan Toale

Seniors: Ryan Toale (4th), Andrij Nimtsiv (4th)

The Men’s Soccer team was another squad that waited until the last day of the season to clinch a playoff berth. The Badgers rallied from a two goal deficit to defeat the Waterloo Warriors 3-2, giving the team a firm hold on the final playoff spot.