MEN'S HOCKEY - Gryphons Split Weekend with a 5-2 Loss to Badgers
 
BOX SCORE
 
GUELPH, Ont. - The Gryphons were looking for their second consecutive win of the weekend this evening but fell short to the Brock Badgers 5-2 in OUA men's hockey action this evening (Jan. 14).
 
The loss drops the Gryphons to 5-12-4, while the Badgers advance to 10-9-1.
 
This penalty-laden game went tit-for-tat as each team exchanged power play opportunities. Matt Abercrombie (Sarnia, ON) opened the scoring for Brock at 10:46 with a power play goal, with help from Sean Jones (Newmarket, ON) and Kaine Geldart (Kingston, ON).
 
Guelph's Andrew Merrett (Vernon, BC) tied up the game less than a minute later at 11:37 with an assist from Jon-Thomas MacDonald (Niagara Falls, ON).
 
The second period saw Brock extend their lead to 3-1, the first at 8:58 by Derek Brochu (Welland, ON) and the second at 19:32 by Jones, both on Brock power plays.
 
A Brock slashing and 10-minute misconduct penalty gave the Gryphons the upper hand going into the third period. The Gryphons had numerous chances to score, but traffic in front of the net and a skilled Brock defencive line, prevented the Gryphons from capitalizing on their efforts.
 
At 10:36 in the third period, Zack Lillie (Bracebridge, ON) finally notched one in the back of the Badgers net to advance the score to 3-2.
 
Guelph's Cody St. Jacques (Iroquois Falls, ON) had his work cut out for him tonight, and made countless big saves. Looking to secure their insurance goal, two Badgers beat the Guelph defence and scored on a give and go. St. Jacques never had a chance.
 
With minutes left in the third period, the Guelph Gryphons would make a last ditch effort to tie the game up to force overtime. Trailing by two, this challenge would prove to be too large to overcome. Instead, Brock would score two unanswered goals to finish off the game with a final score of 5-2. 
 
The Gryphons will travel to Oshawa to take on the Ridgebacks on Thursday January 19, at 7:30 p.m.