GUELPH, ON -- The mantra for this year's Guelph Gryphons women's hockey team is self explanatory -- rebuild to repeat. And with the departed

key figures from last year's McCaw Cup winners in attendance, the youthful Gryphons seemed up for the task ahead in a convincing 5-0 victory over the Laurentian Voyageurs in the regular season home opener at Gryphon Centre Arena.
 
The Gryphons' past was recognized with a pre-game unveiling of the 2015/16 OUA championship banner, and the former players who helped secure last year's McCaw Cup must have been impressed with the new-look squad. 
 
"I didn't think I would be too emotional but I was," said head coach Rachel Flanagan about the banner going up with her former stars in the building. "The players were pretty fired up on the bench and we talked about using that emotion in a positive way."
 
The Gryphons certainly did that. Guelph gained momentum in the opening period and exploded for three goals in the second and added two more in the third en route to its first victory after an overtime loss at Western last week.
 
Kaitlin Lowy and rookie Sydney Davison had two goals each for the Gryphons (1-0-1), while Kelly Gribbons also scored and added an assist.
 
"We have a lot of new faces and one of the questions for us was where will the offence come from?" Flanagan said. "We knew Kaitlin Lowy would be on the brink. And we have Sydney centring the second line. She's a very skilled player."
 
Reigning Canadian Interuniversity Sport Player of the Year Valerie Lamenta made 27 saves in the Guelph net for her first shutout of the season. Lamenta didn't have much to do early but she faced 17 shots in the third period and was sharp when necessary, including a great right pad stop on Brooklyn Davis with the game still scoreless in the first. Lamenta also robbed Taylor Weber near the crease midway through the third on what looked like a certain Laurentian goal.
 

INSTANT VIDEO HIGHLIGHT: Replay of Val Lamenta's two big saves keeping the blank sheet on the board for the Gryphons. pic.twitter.com/CWccX80jP4

— Guelph Gryphons (@guelph_gryphons) October 15, 2016

 
Both teams got off to a cautious start in the opening half of the first period, generating little in the way of chances or shots. But Guelph picked it up and finally forced goaltender Karen Collins into a big stop on a Claire Merrick slapper from the slot, which marked the beginning of the offensive push.
  The Gryphons outshot Laurentian 13-5 in the period and 41-27 overall. 
 
Guelph's energetic finish in the first period foreshadowed an explosive start immediately following the intermission. Davison and Lowy scored in a span of 1:36, beginning with a great effort by the rookie. Davison made a move in the slot and went in alone on Collins before beating the goaltender high on the glove side for an impressive first OUA goal. She would add her second on an empty netter with 13 seconds left in the game.
 
The hosts didn't let up after Davison got them on the board and Lowy tallied her first of the young season three minutes into the period when she found the back of the net from in close while Guelph was shorthanded. Lowy added her second at 14:04, converting a pretty feed from Karli Shell high on Collins' stick side.
 
"We were tentative to start but you could feel the momentum building," said Flanagan. "We challenged them going into the second period. I wanted to know how we would respond."
 
Shell appeared to make it 4-0 on an incredible individual effort nearing the mid point of the third period. She wove her way through a couple defenders, patiently out waited the sprawling Collins and roofed the puck but the goal was waved off. 
 
Gribbons would add her second of the season moments later. 
 
Notes_ Lowy had an assist on Gribbons' goal to complete a three-point effort... Mackenzie Wong chipped in two assists... The Gryphons get back on the ice Wednesday, Oct. 19 when they host the Brock Badgers.