Box Score
Guelph, ON- Friday night at the Gryphon Centre, the Gryphons Men's Hockey team defeated the visiting Queens Gaels 4-2-0. With the win, the Gryphons improve to 7-5 while the Gaels fall to 8-3-0.
 
Coming into this game, both squads were riding high on the momentum of three game win streaks, winning seven of their past ten matchups. This interdivision battle between two of the hottest teams in the OUA started quick. Within 30 seconds of the opening face off, a dump-in turned into a lightning speed break out and a Gryphon goal. Carlos Amestoy netted his first of the season, assisted by Rpb De Fulviis and Scott Simmonds. Unfortunately, the Gryphons got into penalty trouble. After successfully killing off the first with ease, a consecutive penalty allowed the Gaels to tie the game with 4:41 left in the first period. Queens' leading goal scorer, McGillis, scored his seventh of the season with a wide-open shot from the slot, assisted by Abraham and Downe.
 
Five minutes into the second period, the Gryphons forced an interference penalty by driving hard to the net on a short three-on-one. Just over a minute into the powerplay, with smart, rapid passing, the Gryphs found Seth Swenson in the slot. Dylan Gilbert to Robert Lepine to Swenson, tic-tac-toe the puck is in the net and the Gryphons take the lead back. Seconds later, Stephen Hiff feeds Nick Trecapelli at the point. Trecapelli takes aim, fires, goal. Just like that, Guelph is in possession of a two-goal lead. To go along with the two-goal lead were two failed clearing attempts made by the Gryphons in the last minute of the second period, they were on their heels and under unneeded pressure until a tipped pass meant for the blueline lead to a Gryphon two-on-one. The cross-crease saucer pass over the sliding defender skipped over the attackers stick and the Gryphons took the lead into the second intermission.
 
In the third period, Gryphons netminder Andrew D'Agostini made crucial saves to maintain the lead but he could only do so much. Halfway through the third, after a scramble in front of the net and countless deflected shots, Abraham squeezed a wraparound between the post and the D'agostini's pads to cut the lead in half. The lead was nearly restored by a stretch pass from the defensive zone to send Simmonds on a breakaway but he was just inches offside as he waited to receive the pass. There was back-and-forth play the rest of the way but nothing the Gryphons couldn't handle. With under a minute left to play in the third period and the Gaels' goalie pulled, Cody Thompson capped the Gryphons fourth straight win with an empty-net goal. The Gryphons are back in action Saturday afternoon when they host UOIT (8-3-1) at 3pm.