The Queen's Gaels capped off their OUA playoff run in dominant fashion, shutting out the Toronto Varsity Blues 4-0 in the Bronze Medal Game to claim third place in the conference and, more importantly, punch their ticket to the U SPORTS National Championship.

A complete team effort saw the Gaels control play in all three zones, with strong goaltending, a relentless forecheck, and a defensive unit that stifled the Varsity Blues' attack.

The first period saw both teams feeling each other out, trading opportunities but struggling to generate high-quality chances. 

At the other end, the Gaels' defense remained poised, keeping the Varsity Blues to the perimeter and allowing goaltender Christian Purboo (Arts & Science) to track shots cleanly. Toronto's best opportunity came late in the frame on an odd-man rush, but Purboo stood his ground, turning away a quick one-timer to keep the game scoreless heading into the first intermission.

After a tight-checking opening frame, Queen's took control in the second. Nolan Hutcheson (Health Studies) opened the scoring in highlight-reel fashion, breaking through the Varsity Blues defense before deking around the goaltender lifting the puck over the pad and into the open net.

The Gaels built on that momentum just minutes later. Nathan Ribau (Arts & Science) doubled the lead, firing a wrist shot from the point that found its way through traffic and into the back of the net. With Toronto on its heels, Queen's continued to press, using its speed and physical play to control the pace.

Toronto attempted to push back, throwing more bodies toward the net, but Purboo and the Gaels' defensive unit kept chances to the outside. A golden opportunity came for the Varsity Blues when a defensive-zone turnover led to a one-timer from the slot, but Purboo made his best save of the night, flashing the glove to preserve the two-goal lead.

With under seven minutes remaining in the period, Queen's extended its advantage further. Hutcheson struck again, burying a loose puck in front after a shot from Sam Marburg (Arts & Science) rang off the post, giving the Gaels a commanding 3-0 lead heading into the final frame.

With a three-goal cushion, the Gaels remained disciplined in the third period, shutting down any Toronto attempts to get back into the game. The penalty kill was sharp when called upon, with Purboo making another key stop on a cross-crease pass to maintain the shutout.

As time wound down, Queen's delivered the dagger. On a two-on-one rush, Ante Zlomislic (Applied Science) finished off a perfect feed from Liam Tanner (Kinesiology), snapping a shot over the blocker to seal the win.

With the victory, the Gaels not only claim the OUA Bronze Medal but also secure their place at the U SPORTS University Cup, set to take place from March 20-23 at TD Place Arena in Ottawa.

Following the game, several Gaels were recognized for their strong seasons. Hutcheson, Owen Lalonde (Geography/French), and Purboo were all named OUA First Team All-Stars, with Purboo also earning the OUA Goaltender of the Year award for his standout performance throughout the season.

With their postseason hopes still alive, Queen's now turns its attention to the U SPORTS National Championship, where the team will look to build off its strong playoff run and make a deep push on the national stage.

Three Stars of the Game

1st Star – Christian Purboo (Arts & Science):
Purboo was perfect between the pipes, stopping all 26 shots he faced to record a shutout in the most important game of the season. His clutch saves, particularly in the first period and on a late penalty kill, ensured the Gaels controlled the game from start to finish.

2nd Star – Nolan Hutcheson (Health Studies):
The veteran forward stepped up in a big moment, scoring twice to lead the Gaels' offense. His opening goal set the tone, and his second put the game out of reach, capping off an outstanding playoff performance.

3rd Star – Nathan Ribau (Arts & Science):
A steady presence on the blue line, Ribau played a key role in limiting Toronto's offensive chances while also adding a crucial second-period goal that gave Queen's breathing room. His two-way play was instrumental in the victory.