GUELPH, ON - One night after squaring off against the No. 3-ranked team in the country, the Gryphons men's hockey team welcomed one of the hottest teams in country. This time however, the Gryphons took the two points.
Rob Lepine had a four-point night (2 goals, 2 assists) as the Gryphons held off a late charge to win 4-3 over the visiting Ottawa Gee-Gees. With the win, the Gryphons improve to 14-8-3 on the season.
The Ottawa Gee-Gees arrived on U of G campus riding, what was, the longest active win streak in the country. In fact, the Gee-Gees had not tasted defeat this calendar year. Ottawa had ripped off seven straight wins to start 2017, including a Friday night victory at Western. However, on Saturday at the Gryphon Centre, it was all Gryphons early on as goals from
Josh McFadden and Rob Lepine gave the home team a 2-0 lead after the opening 20 minutes.
After the Gee-Gees scored early in the 2nd period to make it a 2-1 game, the Gryphons two-goal lead would be restored late in the period on
Stephen Hiff's first goal of the season. Just under five minutes into the 3rd period, Guelph's lead would grow to 4-1 when Lepine scored his second of the night and team-leading 14th of the season. The Gee-Gees would manage to score a pair of goals to get within one, but that would be as close as they would get as the Gryphons would hang on for the 4-3 win.
U of G goalie
Scott Stajcer, back after serving a three-game suspension for a match penalty, was solid in his return, turning away 26 of the 29 shots sent his way for his 9th win of the season.
Seth Swenson picked up a pair of assists on the night and leads the team with 27 points on the season. The Gryphons improve to 10-3 on home ice and hand Ottawa their first loss since a December 3rd loss to Ryerson.
Up next for the Gryphons, a tough three-game road trip with stops at UQTR (Feb. 3), Concordia (Feb. 4) and Ryerson (Feb. 7). The Gryphons, who currently sit 3rd in the OUA West Division, will close out their regular season schedule at home on Thursday, February 9th when they host the Ryerson Rams for the second half of a home-and-home.
