GUELPH, Ont. – It's the time of year when the Guelph Gryphons women's hockey team seem to raise its level. And with the OUA playoffs approaching, the Gryphons are humming. No. 7 Guelph put on an offensive show in defeating the UOIT Ridgebacks 6-2 on Bell Let's Talk Day at the Gryphon Centre Arena Saturday afternoon.
 
The conference-leading Gryphons actually trailed early before scoring four unanswered goals and adding another pair in the third period to lock up three more points in the standings. Guelph now has 43 points, three more than second-place Western, which has played one more game than the Gryphons. Guelph has won four straight and eight of the past nine.
 
Karli Shell had two goals and an assist, while rookie Madison Melo, Stephanie Gava, Nicole MacKinnon and captain Kaitlin Lowy also scored. Aurore Beaulieu got the start in net and made 24 saves for the win. Beaulieu was unlucky on the opener but played fantastic, especially when the hosts led 4-2 and UOIT was pressing to get back in it. The Calgary, AB native is now a perfect 6-0 on the season as the backup goalie.
 
Guelph hasn't spent much time behind lately but the Ridgebacks got the early jump when Kassidy Nauboris scored for a 1-0 lead just 3:45 into the game on a fortunate bounce. That would be the main highlight for UOIT as the Gryphons exploded for three goals in a span of four minutes before adding another at 5:29 of the second period.
 
Melo got the team going when she followed a Cyan Roepcke chance with a beautiful backhander that she roofed past Ridgebacks' goaltender Briar Hughes. Gava scored less than a minute later and Shell made it 4-1 with her first of the day at 13:44 of the first period.
 
MacKinnon's effort was a good one, a quick little toe drag and shot that she converted for the 4-1 lead. UOIT would respond with a power-play goal from Chelsea Ball midway through the second but Lowy ended any hopes of a comeback when she slid a shot through Hughes. Shell would add another on a Guelph man advantage late in the game.
 
The Gryphons have feasted when playing the Ridgebacks this season. The teams last met on Jan. 4 in Oshawa, a 7-3 Guelph win that featured a natural hat trick from Sydney Davison.
 
Gryphon Take
"We kept the pressure on and got rewarded for that today. We've talked about our starts and despite giving up that goal, our response was good. The second period wasn't out best but in the third, we were able to build on the lead. We possessed the puck well and finished it off. It was good to see the power play capitalize and the scoring spread out. We had goals from all of our lines." – head coach Rachel Flanagan
 
The Record
Guelph is 13-2-1-2 (wins-losses-OT/SO wins-OT/SO losses)
 
Next up
Queen's, Sunday, Jan. 27, 2 pm @ Gryphon Centre Arena
 

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Bell Let's Talk Day is January 30. Spread the word and help us end the stigma associated with mental illness and grow Bell's funding for mental health. On Bell Let's Talk Day, for every text message, mobile and long distance call made by Bell, Bell Aliant an Bell MTS customers, every view of Bell Let's Talk Day on social media, every tweet using #BellLetsTalk, every application of the Facebook frame and every use of Bell Let's Talk Snapchat filter, Bell will donate 5 cents to mental health initiatives across the country. To learn more, visit bell.ca/bell.ca/letstalk.
 
For information about mental health services on Campus, reach out to Student services, or ask a faculty member or your campus medical clinic [update with any specific school resources].
 
About mental illness
Mental illnesses can take many forms, just as physical illnesses do. 
Mental illnesses are still feared and misunderstood by many people, but the fear will disappear as people learn more.  That's why schools from across the country are coming together to combat the stigma associated with mental illness.
If you, or someone you know, has a mental illness, there is good news: All mental illnesses can be treated.
 
Facts (from Canadian Mental Health Association) 
Mental illness indirectly affects all Canadians at some time through a family member, friend or colleague.
In any given year, 1 in 5 people in Canada will personally experience a mental health problem or illness.
Mental illness affects people of all ages, education, income levels, and cultures.
Approximately 8% of adults will experience major depression at some time in their lives.
It is estimated that 10-20% of Canadian youth are affected by a mental illness or disorder – the single most disabling group of disorders worldwide.
The total number of 12-19 year-olds in Canada at risk for developing depression is a staggering 3.2 million.
Suicide is among the leading causes of death in 15-24 year-old Canadians, second only to accidents; 4,000 people die prematurely each year by suicide.
In Canada, only 1 out of 5 children who need mental health services receives them.