Box Score OTTAWA, ONTARIO – The U SPORTS quarter-final between the Mount Royal Cougars and the Toronto Metropolitan Bold will be remembered not just as a fiercely competitive playoff clash but as the longest game in U SPORTS men's hockey history. The contest, spanning an exhausting 143 minutes of game time and stretching into a fifth overtime period, finally ended with TMU's Spencer Shugrue netting the game-winner in a heart-stopping 5-4 victory.
The matchup at TD Place was a battle of endurance, skill, and sheer determination. Both teams entered the game with high expectations—MRU and TMU both lost in their respective conference championships, and were hungry for vengeance. What ensued was a battle that tested the very limits of the players on the ice.
The Cougars wasted no time making an impact. Just over nine minutes into the first period, Mount Royal capitalized on a power play when U SPORTS Player of the Year
Clay Hanus blasted a shot past TMU goaltender Kai Edmonds, TMU responded late in the period with a power-play goal of their own, as Jaden Condotta found the back of the net, leveling the score at 1-1.
The second period saw Mount Royal take control, largely thanks to their aggressive forecheck and quick transition game. Patton struck shorthanded just over a minute into the frame, sniping a shot off a feed from Bouchard. Five minutes later,
Spencer Moe extended the lead to 3-1. TMU, however, would not back down. Kevin Gursoy's power-play marker in the final minute of the period cut the Cougars' lead to 3-2 heading into the third.
Mount Royal looked to have sealed the game when Patton once again delivered a highlight-reel shorthanded goal just one minute into the third, giving MRU a 4-2 lead. Yet, TMU stormed back with two crucial goals. Ian Martin's goal at 6:37 brought the game within one, and just over five minutes later, Daniil Grigorev tied the game.
Both teams had chances late in regulation, but goaltenders Edmonds and
Shane Farkas stood tall, forcing overtime.
As the game entered sudden death, the tension only grew. Each overtime period featured moments where victory was within reach. TMU's Connor Bowie rang a shot off the crossbar in the second, while
Clay Hanus had a goal called back in the third.
With both teams exhausted and running on adrenaline alone, the game reached its historic fifth overtime. TMU found the breakthrough at exactly the 143-minute mark of game time when Spencer Shugrue buried a rebound past a sprawling Farkas, bringing an end to the marathon battle and dashing Mount Royal's championship hopes.
Both goaltenders were exceptional in the record-breaking contest. Farkas, despite the loss, put on a heroic performance, making 65 saves in the longest game of his career. His counterpart, Edmonds, who was named the game's MVP, stopped 49 shots in an unbelievable goaltending display.
Patton led the way offensively for Mount Royal with two goals, while Hanus and Bouchard each had three-point nights. TMU's attack was balanced, with five different goal scorers and a two-assist performance from Joseph Ianniello.
With the final horn sounding after six hours and 33 minutes of action from puck drop, this game cemented itself as the longest in U SPORTS history, a testament to the relentless effort displayed by both teams. While TMU moves on, the Cougars leave Ottawa knowing they played in one of the most unforgettable games in university hockey history.
For the players, coaches, and fans, this was more than just a hockey game—it was an endurance test, a showcase of determination, and an instant classic that will be remembered for years to come.
