st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } The Gryphon Centre was nosier than ever tonight (Feb. 4) as the Guelph Gryphon men's hockey team pulled off the 4-3 victory over the Western Mustangs on "More Cowbell Night".

Kris Belan (Florence, Ont.) picked up two goals on the night, including the game-winner, while Tim Priamo (Guelph, Ont.) and Ed Gale (Keswick, Ont.) each chipped in two assists. Other goal scorers for the Gryphons included Thomas Kiriakou (Richmond Hill, Ont.), who also had an assist, and Matt Lyall (Richmond Hill, Ont.).

Scott Van Bommel (Norwich, Ont.) was given the start, yet again, and came out with another victory, stopping 22 of the Mustangs' 25 shots.

The Gryphons' third-straight win continues to boost their record as they now sit at 12-10-4, while the Mustangs, who currently sit in first in the OUA West, add a loss to their record, 19-7-0.

Western came out flying in the first period, putting up the first goal just thirty-seven seconds in. It appeared as though Mark Pawlowski (Mississauga, Ont.) had been wrestled down on the Mustang blue line and that's what had sprung the Western opportunity, but no call was made and Western went on top 1-0.

The Guelph offense was fired up following the goal, laying the body on a number of Mustangs and netting a goal of their own at 6:48.

Matt Lyall carried the puck deep into the Western end and around the back of the net until he was rubbed off the puck. Alex Magera (Edmonton, Alta.) scooped up the loose rubber and dished it back to Lyall in front of the net, who kept the puck for only a brief moment before roofing it over the shoulder of Western netminder, Josh Unice.

Guelph would not only respond, but also took the lead minutes later on the two-man advantage. As the Gryphons closed in on the Western net, a beauty tic-tac-toe play helped the puck find the back of the net. Priamo dropped the puck down to Ed Gale, who one-timed it to Belan, who buried the puck between the posts, along the ice. The goal gave the Gryphons the 2-1 advantage, which they held onto for the remainder of the period.

The Mustangs would strike first in the second period, knotting the game at two, eight minutes into the frame and then taking the lead on their second goal at 14:07, after a poor defensive pinch left Western forward Joe McCann alone with Van Bommel, netting his second of the game.

The Gryphons would answer back though before the end of the period. Priamo, just barely keeping the puck in the offensive zone, got control and spotted an unmarked Thomas Kiriakou at the side of the net. Priamo forced a hard pass across the front of the net, Kiriakou cradled it, let it go and from the bad angle managed to find the mesh, evening the score at three going into the second intermission.

The third period was what you would anticipate from two teams fighting to break a deadlock. Both squads set up a number of chances but the goaltending was solid and when the goalies weren't around their good, old, friend the iron always had their back.

With just under two minutes left in the period, things started to get a little scary in the Gryphon zone, as they failed to clear the puck for what seemed like forever, until finally Patrick Campbell (Sauble Beach, Ont.) worked his way up the boards and passed off the puck to Kiriakou. Kiriakou weaved through centre-ice and as he crossed the Western blue line, found Kris Belan who had been following down the opposite side of the ice. Belan pulled the puck back and snapped a quick shot past Unice and into the far side of the net, giving the Gryphons a 4-3 lead with 1:54 remaining in the game.

Western emptied their net and put pressure on the Gryphons, with six attackers working the Guelph zone. The Gryphons held off the Mustangs and Belan even had an open-net chance for the hat-trick, but was tangled up in a Western defender and missed wide. As the seconds died down, Guelph fans clanged their cowbells as their Gryphons came out with the 4-3 victory.

Guelph looks to extend their win-streak to four games as they play host for the last time this regular season. On Saturday (Feb. 6) the Gryphons will faceoff against the York Lions at the Gryphon Centre, with the puck dropping at 7:30pm.

BOX SCORE

Scoring/Penalties

Western 1 2 0 - 3

Guelph 2 1 1 - 4

1st Period-1, Western, Ouellet 8 (Nemeth, Martinelli), 0:37. 2, Guelph, Lyall 6 (Magera, Lalonde), 6:48. 3, Guelph, Belan 14 (Gale, Priamo), 14:21 (pp). Penalties-Piva Uwo (slashing), 1:09; Knowles Gue (slashing), 6:55; Baker Uwo (hooking), 8:04; Martinelli Uwo (tripping), 12:34; Swit Uwo (tripping), 13:26; Kusy Gue (hooking), 16:54; Piva Uwo (cross checking, 10-minute misconduct), 17:44.

2nd Period-4, Western, McCann 5 (Lee, Martinelli), 8:32. 5, Western, McCann 6 (Martinelli, Lee), 14:01. 6, Guelph, Kiriakou 13 (Priamo, Gale), 18:31 (pp). Penalties-Magera Gue (holding), 1:30; Gale Gue (interference), 9:24; Snow Uwo (tripping), 15:29; Martinelli Uwo (roughing), 17:06.

3rd Period-7, Guelph, Belan 15 (Kiriakou, Campbell), 18:06. Penalties-Martinelli Uwo (holding), 2:03; Douglas Gue (tripping), 8:51; Nemeth Uwo (inter. on goaltender), 11:15; Knowles Gue (elbowing), 13:51.

Shots on Goal

Western 9-12-4-25. Guelph 17-8-11-36.

Power Play Opportunities

Western 0 of 6; Guelph 2 of 9.

Goalies

Western, Unice 1-3-0 (36 shots-32 saves). Guelph, VanBommel 7-4-3 (25 shots-22 saves).

Source: - Gryphon Sports Information- Jacob Cassidy