GUELPH, Ont. – It was a night to honour the longest-serving veterans. And the Guelph Gryphons men's hockey team took a page out of its recent history book, producing an offensive barrage like they have so many times over the past few years. The playoff-bound Gryphons found the net with regularity in a one-sided 5-0 win over the Windsor Lancers on an emotional Senior Night at Gryphon Centre Arena.
 
It was the last regular-season home game for 10 Gryphon players who have been instrumental in the team's success in the latter part of this decade: defencemen Mark Raycroft and Reilly O'Connor, forwards Tryg Strand, Cody Thompson, Stephen Hiff, Michael Stevens, Andres Kopstals, Seth Swenson, and the captain for the past three seasons, Scott Simmonds.
 
The boys were recognized before the puck dropped and were presented with framed action photos as their parents stood alongside them. And they were sent off in style by a core of young players ready to take the torch. Rookie Connor Bramwell had two goals and assist, while fellow first-year forward Ryan Valentini and defenceman Justin Lemcke had a goal and a helper each.

Reigning OUA West Rookie of the Year Todd Winder also scored for the Gryphons and netminder Andrew Masters made 17 saves for his second shutout this week. Simmonds recorded two assists in the last regular season game he will play at the barn he's called home for five years.
 
Bramwell got things started for Guelph at 9:09 of the opening period, finishing a beautiful passing sequence by roofing a backhander past Windsor goalie Jonathan Reinhart for the first of five unanswered Guelph goals. The Hamilton, ON native has bounced back from a serious collarbone injury he suffered back in the fall and he showed his hot early-season form by adding a second midway through the third period on a quick shot from the slot that rang off the left post, the crossbar, the right post and in behind Lancers' backup Paolo Battisti for a commanding 5-0 lead.
 
Lemcke made it 2-0 with his fifth goal since recently joining the team. He buried a cross-crease pass from Bramwell at the 17:23 mark of a first period that ended with Guelph out-shooting the visitors 14-7.
 
The Gryphons continued to pour it on in the second period, which saw backup goaltender Gilbert Oldreive make his OUA debut very briefly as Masters had to deal with an equipment issue. Winder extended the lead to 3-0 when he initially fanned on a shot and then batted the puck out of midair past Reinhart.
 
And less than a minute after that, Valentini made Windsor pay for a failed clearing attempt by pouncing on a loose puck in the slot before beating Reinhart through the five-hole.
 
Guelph locked up fourth place in the OUA West and could face against Windsor again next week in the opening round of the playoffs. 
 
Gryphon Take
"On behalf of our entire program, we would like to thank all of our graduating seniors for all that they have done over the years. Five of the 10 seniors we honoured tonight were part of our conference championship team in 2014/15, and all of these guys played key roles in our 2016-17 team, which tied a school record with 21 wins during the regular season. Aside from what they've done on the ice, this group has also set the tone for our team in the classroom and the community. We wish all of them well in their professional careers and are proud of what they've accomplished in their time here at U of G."
 
"It was pretty special tonight. This was the first time we had parents be here to share that moment when the seniors were recognized by the fans. It was a nice ceremony and we're appreciative of the effort."
 
"This was a solid game for us from top to bottom. We've had back-to-back shutouts so we're not giving up a whole lately. It feels like we're getting better as head into the playoffs." – Gryphon head coach Shawn Camp 
 
The Record
Guelph is 13-11-0-4
 
Next up
Best-of-three series (OUA West Quarter-finals) - opponent TBD