The Sleeman Centre hosted the annual Guelph Gryphon's men's hockey Winter Homecoming Frosty Mug game tonight (Jan. 20^th) in Guelph. Both teams came to the game ready to play and more than 1,500 fans in attendance were in for an exciting night right from the start.  Both teams fought hard but the Gryphons ultimately came out on top with a final score of 5-3.

Guelph's record moves to 7-12-4 on the season while the Golden Hawks drop to 6-14-1. Gryphon scoring was led tonight by fourth year Justin Gvora (Thunder Bay, Ont.) who tallied a hat trick and has scored five goals in the last two games.

Three minutes into the first period the first goal of the game was scored by Golden Hawk Mitchell Good (Wellesley, ON) after sneaking in behind Gryphon goalie Cody St Jacques (Iroquois Falls, ON) into the right corner of the net. He was assisted by Mitch Lebar (Aurora, ON) and Tyler Stothers (Oakville, ON).
  Guelph had a number of shots on net in the first including a close one from Justin Gvora  11 minutes in. Gryphon Patrick Campbell (Sauble Beach, ON) helped keep the score under control for the rest of the first with his aggressive defence and by intercepting Laurier passes.

The game picked up in the second period seeing five goals across the board. The first for the Gryphons came from Gvora on a power play after some quick thinking from JT MacDonald (Niagara Falls, ON) and Zach Lillie, (Bracebridge, ON) at 8:58 in the second. Laurier returned only minutes later with their second goal from Mike Masciolii (Azilda, ON) after an assist from Zach Woolford (Rockwood, ON) at 10:18.

Only seconds later the Gryphons tied up the game again after Mike Kusy (St. Catharines, ON) shot into the right corner of the net before Golden Hawk goalie Ryan Daniels (Pickering, ON) could respond. He was assisted by Matthew Lyall (Richmond Hill, ON) and Ken Peroff (Astorville, ON). Laurier came back once again and took the lead with a goal from Stothers to bring the score to 3-2.

Gvora captured one more goal for the Gryphons, and his second of the night, before the end of the second with only 36 seconds left on the board. He snuck the puck into the left corner after being assisted by Peroff and MacDonald. The second period ended in a stale-mate 3-3.

The Gryphons finally took the lead three minutes into the third after a scrimmage outside of the Golden Hawk net left them vulnerable to Gryphon attack. Philip Teri (Elora, ON) pocketed the goal after a quick pass from Cale Jeffries (Glenboro, ON).  St Jacques made some fantastic saves in the third as Laurier pushed harder in their attacks to try and catch up to the Gryphons.

In the last minutes of the game Laurier pulled their goalie to put their offence into full force but they were left with an open net when Gvora scored his third of the night, confirming the Gryphon win.

The Gryphons next play the York Lions in Toronto on January 26. Puck drops at 7pm. 
 
 
  2012 Frosty Mug Gallery