Box Score
Toronto, ON – Sunday night at Varsity Arena the Gryphons men's hockey team won 5-2 over the University of Toronto Varsity Blues in Game 3 of their OUA West semi-final series.  With the result, the Varsity Blues are eliminated from the OUA playoffs while the Gryphons advance to the OUA West finals. 
 
Before the OUA playoffs even started, the Gryphons were already a trendy "dark horse" pick to make a run in the postseason.  Their slow start to the season, followed by their turn around in the second half of the season was well documented and made them the proverbial "team nobody wants to play."  It ends up the trendy pick was the right one to make. 
 
Usually, in a win-or-go-home game, it is common for both teams to play it safe, not wanting to make a big mistake.  This was not the case Sunday night as the opening period was played at a furious pace.  Varsity Blues forward Russell Turner would take a pair penalties in the early going, one for slashing the other for boarding, both of which would prove to be costly for U of T.  Gryphons rookie Scott Simmonds (Uxbridge, ON) would outwait Toronto goalie Brett Willows for the first goal of the game.  Turner would be watching from the penalty box once again as Teal Burns would set up Nicholas Trecapelli for Guelph's second power play goal of the night, giving the Gryphons a 2-0 lead just over seven minutes into the game.  With under two minutes remaining in the opening period, the Gryphons would cap off a dominant opening period and extend their lead to 3-0 on a goal from Michael Hasson (Ariss, ON).  Guelph outshot Toronto 16-6 in the first period and took a commanding three goal lead to the second.
 
The Varsity Blues, who made a goalie change to start the second period, needed a spark in a big way and seemed to get it when a point shot from Cameron Bernier got Toronto on the board and cut the deficit to 3-1.  However, any momentum the Varsity Blues may have gained would soon be gone as just over two minutes later, Guelph's three goal lead would be restored on a goal from Kyle Neuber (Sarnia, ON).  The Gryphons took a 4-1 lead to the third period.
 
Carlos Amestoy's goal 7:41 into the third period extended the Guelph lead to 5-1.  Toronto would score once more before the final horn, but Gryphons goalie Andrew D'Agostini (Scarborough, ON) was once again impressive in between the pipes for Guelph on the night, turning away 29 of the 31 shots sent his way.  Scott Simmonds and Kyle Neuber both finished with three point nights, as the Gryphons improve to 4-0 this postseason when facing elimination.
 
Up next for the Gryphons, the defending OUA champion Windsor Lancers.