GUELPH – As teams get deeper into the hockey season, it's not a shock that they begin to wear down. It's natural to get depleted and lose fitness. But it seems like the opposite is happening for the Guelph Gryphons women's hockey team. The two-time defending McCaw Cup winners delayed their annual mid-season testing set for the latter part of 2017 and gathered to do it this past week.
It turns out that as the grueling stretch run of the OUA season approaches, many Gryphons were testing better than they did in the fall before games started.
"I don't know how many teams can say that," says head coach
Rachel Flanagan, proud of the work her team has put in on and off the ice.
Those results are a boost for No. 6 Guelph, especially as the team heads into a pair of big weekend home games, including a matchup with the conference-leading Queen's Gaels Saturday, Jan. 28 (puck drop is at 2 pm) before hosting the UOIT Ridgebacks the following day (also 2 pm). The first game is no ordinary outing for the Gryphons (13-4-0). Besides being a chance to avenge a 3-1 loss in Kingston back on Oct. 28, a win would put Guelph atop the OUA.
Guelph has won 12 of 13 since a 3-1 loss in Kingston in October
"We feel really confident in our group," says Flanagan, who mentioned the team has met to discuss what they need to do in this critical latter stage of the season. "It's a good test for us because it's been a while since we've had a game where the girls felt like they could get into it and it really meant something. I expect a great response.
"Every game from here on out is pretty much a playoff game," the coach adds. "Home-ice advantage is so key in the playoffs so our short-term focus is to make sure we're playing for that. Our girls want to win. It's a game where they have something to play for that's very tangible."
When they met in October, Queen's jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first period, the opener coming from OUA goals and points leader Katrina Manoukarakis. The hole was too big for a Gryphons team that was struggling at the time. The defending champions are a much different team three months down the road, though Guelph is still working on some details to fine tune the overall game.
"Our team has dealt with a lot adversity this year," says
Kelly Gribbons, a fifth-year engineering systems student form Port Elgin, ON. "We are definitely a resilient team that has grown closer as the season has progressed. This has transferred onto the ice as we win and lose games as a team."
Gribbons says the Gryphons aren't too focused on the standings but the players knows they will need to be sharp against Queen's, who boast the best special teams in the conference (OUA-leading 93.8 per cent penalty kill, and the second-best power play at 19.7 per cent). The Gaels also have one of the top goaltenders in the league in in Stephanie Pascal (11-4-0, 1.35 goals against average, .945 save percentage).
"Their goaltender has been really hot lately so we have to find a way to beat her, put pucks in behind their D and go to work in the offensive zone," says Flanagan.
"Probably their biggest asset is that they have a bunch of kids who can really shoot the puck. Taking away their time and space so that they can't wind up or get in open lanes is really important for us."
Queen's will have their own issues in trying to slow down a potent Guelph attack that utilizes speed, especially on the bigger ice at the Gryphon Centre. Manoukarakis may lead the league in scoring but Guelph has three players in the top eight in Gribbons (8-10-18), captain
Kaitlin Lowy (12-5-17, tied with Manoukarakis for the league lead in goals), and reigning
Gryphon Female Athlete of the Week Claire Merrick (5-12-17). Former U SPORTS player of the year
Valerie Lamenta has been her usual steady self in the Guelph net, going 9-3-0, with a 1.33 goals against average and a .941 save percentage.
Collectively, the Gryphons have rebounded from a poor start to the season. They lost three of their first four games and after falling to Queen's, won 12 of the next 13, including a current seven-game win streak. Guelph has scored the most goals (52, tied with Queen's but in one less game) and allowed the fewest (just 25), showcasing the balance of a championship-calibre team.
"We have had a lot of success lately and we're looking to carry that into this weekend," says Gribbons. We have had a good week of practice and our focus going in is to play our game. With our speed, we're really a tough team to play against."
Gryphon Team Stats
Gryphon Individual Stats
