GUELPH, ON -
Marc and
Michael Stevens will have the bragging rights at the dinner table when they are home for the Christmas break in December. The Gryphons men's hockey team won 5-4 over the Carleton Ravens on Friday night, with Guelph's two Stevens brothers combining for 4 points (1 G, 3 A) on the night in a game that featured a trio of brothers on the ice. Marc and Michael's older brother, Justin, plays for the Carleton Ravens.
Left-to-right: Michael, Justin & Marc Stevens
"It was a pretty awesome feeling. That was the first time the three of us have ever all been on the same ice like that. We had a bunch of family and friends from Brantford and Turkey Point show up for the game tonight, so it was pretty cool feeling," Marc Stevens said after the game. Carleton's Justin Stevens is the oldest of the bunch, born in 1991, followed by Michael (1993) and Marc (1996). Marc, a former member of the Guelph Storm, is now in his first season with the Gryphons. He would make sure to give his family and friends plenty to cheer about at the 8:01 mark of the 1st period.
After Carleton had opened the scoring, the Gryphons would answer right back. Some nice work from
Josh McFadden would help set up Marc Stevens in front, who would go high glove side for his 4th goal of the season and second in as many games. Marc's older brother, Michael, picked up an assist on the goal. It was the start of a big night for the two Stevens brothers who each had mult-point nights. Marc finished with 1 goal and 1 assist while Michael recorded a pair of helpers. It was also the start of an entertaining, goal-filled night between the Gryphons and Ravens.
With :43 seconds remaining in the 1st period, the Gryphons would add another after
Seth Swenson was able to hammer home a one-timer during a 5-on-3 power play to give the Gryphos a 2-1 lead heading into the 2nd.
After Carleton tied the game at 2-2, the Gryphons would strike on the power play once again late in the 2nd period. With :10 seconds remaining in the 2nd, Mac Nichol's wrist shot from the point would find its way through traffic for his second goal of the season, with both Marc and Michael Stevens picking up assists on the goal. Nichol finished with a three-point night (1 G, 2 A) as the Gryphons took a 3-2 lead to the final period.
Trevor Morbeck gave the Gryphons a 4-2 lead in the 3rd, only to see the Ravens scored the next two to tie the game at 4-4. With overtime looming, the Gryphons would score the game-winner with 2:41 remaining in regulation when Mac Nichol's point shot was tipped in by Nick Boyer. For Boyer, a rookie winger and trasnfer from NCAA Division 1 program Mercyhurst, it was his first goal in a Gryphon uniform. It was also the game-winner.
If the three Stevens brothers are to meet again in OUA action, they will have to wait until the playoffs as Friday night's matchup marked the lone meeting of the season between the Gryphons and Ravens, with Carleton playing in the OUA East Division and the Gryphons in the West. After the game, Marc Stevens admitted there was plenty of anticipation leading up to this one, "We were counting down the days until this one. We had a quick Facetime the other day and exchanged a few chirps during the warmup, but other than that we were all just focused on what we had to do. But afterwards, we had a big hug on the ice....it's definitely one we'll remember."
With the win on Friday night over Carleton, the Gryphons snap a four-game skid and improve to 4-5-0 while the Ravens fall to 6-4-0. The Gryphons will be right back in action on Saturday night (Nov. 5) when they play host to the RMC Paladins. Game time is set for 7:30pm at the Gryphon Centre.
