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Every year at the start of the Canadian University hockey season the Brock University Badgers welcome back students and alumni on homecoming weekend, and they celebrate by challenging another school's hockey team to a duel.
I'm not exactly exaggerating, as the trophy is not a bowl, a cup, nor does it have a little plastic hockey player on top.
No, what you get for winning this game is a sword.
So, with the start of the university season here, I headed to downtown St. Catharines to take it all in.
Where are you?
The game was held at the Meridain Centre in St. Catharines, Ontario. It's a ten year old facility that seats 5,580 people for hockey, the home of the OHL's Niagara IceDogs, and the centre piece of the downtown revitalization that had a pandemic shaped wrench thrown into the plans.
It's a basic hockey arena, with a lower bowl circling the ice, and suites and a lounge area above 3/4 of the lower bowl with one end open to the ceiling. That end also features two sections of retractable seats, that are used on sold out events, but others can see them folded back with the area used for staging areas, bars, or whatever the teams can think of. The St. Catharines Sports Wall of Fame sits on the concourse above this area, and features photos of local athletes, supporters, and memorabilia on loan from the local museum.
The Meridian Centre pre-game
There is a Brock satellite campus across the street, the Marilyn I. Walker School of Fine and Performing Arts, and there are two parking garages nearby to handle the fans. This night the campus hosted the alumni fan fest, with bands, food trucks, and plenty of pre- & post-game entertainment.
Who are you watching?
The home team, and my generous host, is the Brock University Men's Hockey Team, aka The Badgers, and the opponent is the Guelph Gryphons Men's Hockey team. Both play in the OUA (Ontario University Athletics) division of USports - the national governing body over Canadian University Sports.
The Badgers have sadly never won a national title in men's hockey, while the Gryphons won their only title in 1997. It's been a long wait for both teams to see the David Johnston University Cup.
Why are you here?
I want to expand my hockey experiences past the Maple Leafs and Marlies. I love the sport and want to see it in all its forms. That's why I'm hitting the road, so to speak, and exploring all levels of the game live. It's also the 60th anniversary of the founding of Brock University, a big year for the school, and the city.
I've never been to a USports game before, I've watched bits through a sliver of glass when I worked as a rink rat at the Brock home arena - Canada Games Park - but have always thought of actually going to a game as a fan, so why not start this series here.
Brock homecoming coincides with the annual Grape & Wine Festival that celebrates the Niagara wine country's harvest, and takes over downtown for two weekends at the end of September.
There are parties in the main park, in parking lots, bars up and down the main drag, it's a couple wild weekends, and I don't mind having moved out of the area - though I do miss being at the playground on the morning after watching the revelers wake up and wonder where they are.
But, I digress.
Downtown was alive and well, hockey fans, partiers, and plenty of the characters you'll find in every downtown area. Even though I arrived early and got myself set up in the press box, I went outside to get the proper entry experience, which is very different from almost any arena you'll visit. Entering the rink you'll come off the street and cross a bridge, and enter the arena on the top floor. Above the suites, above the bowl, practically on the roof.
Getting in is the easy part, it's all downhill from here. Literally. Rather than ride endless escalators or climb up to your seats, you'll walk down one level to the suites, then down one more to the lower bowl concourse.
The concourse buzzes with excitement and is filled with students covered in Badgers apparel. Beers are bought. Popcorn is popped. It's very easy to get around, it is just a big circle wide enough for many groups of people to mingle as others find their seats, and as college kids are wont to do, gather for selfies and make TikTok videos on the stairs.
Rally towels and thunder sticks are handed out, fans who didn't comer appropriately dressed are buying hoodies to warm up, and there is nary a Guelph fan in sight. The lights dim, hype video plays, and the crowd becomes a deafening wall of screaming, cheers, and thunder. The Badgers skate out to this amazing welcome, and then boos rain down on the Guelph players.
The crowd is one of the most into the game crowds I've ever been in. Cheers, chants of "ref you suck!", ecstasy when Brock opens scoring on a power play goal in the first two minutes. Agony when Guelph responds with four goals of their own. Every hit has people on their feet. Shots, blocks, saves, nothing gets by these fans.
The atmosphere is electric and the game ops crew isn't overwhelming you with sponsors, games, or kiss cams at every stoppage and intermission. The music is too loud, but as I continue to creep past 40 that seems to be my thought of every arena I visit. I need to bring earplugs.
The 25th anniversary of the Steel Blade Classic happened during Brock University's 60th anniversary, but unfortunately the party wasn't a big as it should have been as the Guelph Gryphons defeated the home team 6-2.
Stephen Leithwood
Something I noticed post-game, and during the game, are the safety precautions taken because this homecoming weekend combined with a wine festival after all. No front seats allowed to keep the glass bangers away. Extra security in the concourse, and a free ride for those who imbibed a bit too much.
Safety first!
Would I attend a Steel Blade Classic game again? Absolutely. I regret not attending earlier games when I could easily walk to the arena. It's a raucous crowd, the energy is amazing, the quality of play is great, and I know this arena inside and out and it's always a good time.
The only big downside to the game was the same as every other event you could attend: getting out. Because of the two bridges being the main connections to downtown it really slows the crowd down exiting. If you can go down to ice level and get out an exit there, you can walk up the street or other public access stairs to get to the main drag you could avoid the crowds but it's pretty much two exits only, so sit and relax and wait.
You can attend Brock Badgers Men's & Women's games at Canada Games Park in Thorold, Ontario across the street from Brock University's main campus. Tickets are free for students, and $10-$15 for adults, non-Brick students, and alumni.
I'll be off to a women's game when the season resumes after winter break in January.
A note from me, Adam:
I attended this game between Brock University and the University of Guelph as the end of September, and I recognize that it is now the end of November. Life happens, things get pushed to the back burner, but the Badgers hosted me and I wanted to make sure I didn't let this fade into the ether like so many other things I've started.
Thank you for reading, and hopefully I can get out to more once things settle down for me.
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