The Guelph Gryphon men's hockey team dropped a 4-3 final to the Brock Badgers in the second game of its best-of-three Ontario University Athletics (OUA) playoff series Friday night.

The visiting Gryphons fell into a 3-1 second period hole they couldn't get out of.  Andrew Merrett, Justin Gvora and Cale Jefferies scored single goals for Guelph. The Gryphons outshot Brock 27-23.

Brock opened the scoring 9:10 into the opening period on the powerplay as senior Steve Mullin (Guelph, Ont.) setup Matt Abercrombie (Sarnia, Ont.) who beat Gryphons goaltender Andrew Loverock for his first of the postseason.

Guelph would tie the game 6:26 into the second period as Andrew Merret slid a shot past Kurt Jory (Brandon, Man.) for the shorthanded marker.

Just over a minute later, Brock would regain their one goal lead, as senior Ryan Allen (Fort McMurray, Alta.) slid a two-on-one pass across to Abercrombie who buried a wrist shot over the glove of Loverock.

Before the end of the second period, freshman Jake LaPlante (Mississauga, Ont.) blasted a slapshot from the high point over the shoulder of Loverock for the 3-1 lead.

Midway through the third period, Guelph would cut the lead to one as Justin Gvora beat Jory on the wraparound. Just 17 seconds later, the Gryphons tied the game 3-3 with a one-timer from Cale Jefferies which beat Jory five-hole.  

With a 1:46 left in regulation, Brock freshman Kaine Geldart (Kingston, Ont.) would find freshman Jordan Gignac (Hamilton, Ont.) on the corner of the crease who slid it past Loverock for the game winner and his third of the postseason.

Jory recorded 24 saves for his first postseason victory of his career while Loverock added 19 saves in the loss.  

The third and deciding game of this best 2-of-3 series will be at Guelph on Sunday, February 20th at 7:30 pm.