THUNDER BAY, Ont. – With just three games remaining in the OUA regular season schedule, the Gryphons men's hockey team is certainly trending in the right direction with the playoffs just around the corner.
 
Friday night in Thunder Bay, the Gryphons (11-10-0-4) picked up their fourth win in their last five games with a hard-fought 5-4 road win over the Lakehead Thunderwolves (10-14-0-1). The Gryphons started fast, jumping out to a 2-0 lead less than two minutes into the opening period. Reigning OUA West Rookie of the Year Todd Winder opened the scoring with his 5th of the season at the 1:31 mark, which was followed by a second Gryphon goal just :12 seconds later when current rookie of the year contender Connor Bramwell notched his 8th of the season.
 
After Lakehead trimmed the deficit to 2-1, the Gryphons would take advantage of a Lakehead turnover after a Thunderwolves defencemen had his stick break while trying to clear his own end. Seth Swenson set up Andres Kopstals, who was able to fire home his 1st of the season to put Guelph up 3-1. After the Thunderwolves once again were able to trim the deficit to one, the Gryphons would once again respond, this time with Swenson scoring his 2nd of the season, putting the Gryphs up 4-2 and ending the day for Lakehead goalie Nick Renyard, who was pulled after allowing four goals on 21 shots.
 
The Gryphons would continue to add a fifth goal late in the second period thanks to standout rookie defencemen Stephen Templeton. The former member of the Chicoutimi Sagueneens (QMJHL) would finish off a nice give-and-go to with Connor Bramwell before beating Lakehead goalie Devin Green blocker side for the 2nd goal of his U of G career to put the Gryphons up 5-2.
 
The Thunderwolves would make a charge in the third period, outshooting Guelph 14-3 over the final 20 minutes and adding a pair of goals to trim the deficit to 5-4. Lakehead forward Josh Laframbroise completed a hat trick with his third goal of the game coming with just over a minute remaining to make it a 5-4 game. It would be as close as the Thunderwolves would get, however, as the Gryphons would hold on for their third road win in their last four road games.
 
Gryphons second-year goalie Andrew Masters made 35 saves on the night for the win in a game that marked the front end of a weekend doubleheader, with the Gryphons and Thunderwolves set to once again square off on Saturday night in Thunder Bay. The Gryphons currently sit 5th in the log-jammed OUA West standings (tied with 4th-placed York with 26 points) and after Saturday night's game at Lakehead, will return home to close out the regular season with home games versus Toronto (Feb. 7) and Windsor (Feb. 9).
  
Gryphon Take
"This was a huge win for our guys. We competed hard all night and gained some very valuable points in our hunt for home ice in the playoffs." – Gryphon head coach Shawn Camp
  
The Record
Guelph is 11-10-0-4 (wins-losses-OT losses-SO losses)
 
Next up
@ Lakehead, Saturday, Feb. 2, 7 pm