GUELPH, Ont. – The Guelph Gryphons men's hockey team had the opportunity to pile up some points on home ice with a busy weekend schedule. But the No. 9 Gryphons didn't get the start they had hoped for, losing 3-1 to the Carleton Ravens Friday night at the Gryphon Centre Arena.
Stephen Hiff scored the lone goal for Guelph, while
Evan Cormier made his fourth consecutive start and stopped 20 of 23 shots.
Carleton didn't generate a ton of shots but they were efficient and put pressure on the Gryphons all evening. Guelph trailed 2-0 after 40 minutes but Hiff cut the lead in half at 3:36 of the third period when he turned with the puck inside the right circle and wired a shot that beat Carleton netminder Justin Nichols short side.
Hiff's goal gave the team a spark and the hosts almost tied it up moments later when
Braydon Munn was sprung for a breakaway but his shot was denied by Nichols. Guelph had a power play right after that though it was Carleton who would get a goal to extend the lead at the 11:21 mark. Winger Matthew Forchuk got free on a break and picked the top right corner to halt the Gryphons' momentum.
Guelph had a final chance on the power play in the last two minutes of regulation. Carleton took a major penalty after rookie
Connor Bramwell was sent crashing into the end boards, appearing to injure his collarbone. After a delay, the Gryphons tried to set up with the man advantage but couldn't generate any significant chances to get back in the game.
Carleton took a lead in the second period after a stretch in which they had produced lots of chances without a clean finish. They got some luck when the Gryphons tried to get the puck to Cormier in traffic but it snuck in underneath the goaltender for a 1-0 lead at the 11:37 mark. Brett Gustavsen was credited with the goal.
The Ravens continued to dominate play in the second period and they struck again with 1:40 left before the intermission. Alexandre Boivin controlled the puck near the right post and roofed a shot just under the bar from a tight angle that Cormier had little chance of stopping.
Turning Point
Forchuk's goal was a killer. Just when it looked like the Gryphons had come to life and were close to an equalizer, the Carleton forward pretty much iced it with an excellent piece of skill to go top shelf.
Gryphon Take
"Outworked. In the OUA, on any night, the team that wants it more generally wins. Bottom line." –
head coach Shawn Camp
The Record
Guelph is 2-2-2-0.
Next up
Ottawa, Saturday, Oct. 27, 7:30 pm @ Gryphon Centre Arena
