GUELPH, Ont. - Coming within just one win of an OUA championship last season, the Guelph Gryphons men's hockey team is back in the playoffs and hungrier than ever to take this season one step further. Under the direction of 13-year head coach Shawn Camp, the Gryphons concluded the 2019-20 OUA regular season as the No. 6-ranked team in the country, while taking down the OUA West-leading Toronto Varsity Blues in their regular season finale, creating plenty of momentum entering the post season. The Gryphons will officially begin their quest for an OUA title this Thursday (Feb. 13) as they host the Laurier Golden Hawks in the opening round of the 2020 OUA men's hockey playoffs.
 

OUA West Quarter-finals
No. 3-seed Guelph Gryphons (17-6-5) vs No. 6-seed Laurier Golden Hawks (13-12-3)

Game 1: WLU @ GUE - Thursday, February 13, 2020 - 7:30pm (Gryphon Centre)

Game 2: GUE @ WLU - Saturday, February 15, 2020 - 7pm (Waterloo Rec Complex)

Game 3: WLU @ GUE - Sunday, February 16, 2020 - 7:30pm (Gryphon Centre) ***IF NECESSARY***

"For all of our returning guys, they remember just how hard they had to work to get to the Queen's Cup last year but they also remember the disappointment in not winning the Queen's Cup," said Camp, who served as head coach of the Gryphons during their last OUA title winning season in 2014-15.

"As thrilled as everyone was to still be able to go to nationals, it feels like there is still some unfinished business."

This year, it will be the No. 9-nationally ranked Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks standing in front of the Gryphons when the OUA's opening round of playoffs get underway. In their two meetings this season, the Gryphons and Golden Hawks played a pair of highly competitive games, with each squad winning at home. At the end of October, the Gryphons travelled to Waterloo and fell to Laurier 4-2. However, the Gryphons returned the favour on January 23 when Guelph downed the Hawks 4-3 at the Sleeman Centre in the annual Frosty Mug. The upcoming postseason matchup between the two schools will mark their first playoff meeting since the 2012-13 season, when Guelph won in three games.

"Laurier does everything well," Camp said. "They are balanced in their forward lines, their defence play a simple and smart game, and they receive good goaltending too, which makes them dangerous."

"The other part of the equation for them is that their special teams have been really good throughout big parts of the season. We know this is a nationally ranked team that we are playing in the first round so we will have to be at our best."

Entering the playoffs, the Gryphons have been led by their high-powered offence all season long. Scoring a league high 127 goals in the regular season, the Gryphons proved to have the most dangerous offence in the province averaging an astounding 4.54 goals per game. The strong offensive play was also often showcased on the man-advantage where Guelph finished the campaign with a 26.9% conversion rate on the power play (2nd in OUA). 

A big reason for the Gryphons ability to consistently find the back of the net has been the play of three key veterans.

Mikkel Aagaard (46), Ryan Valentini (39) and Todd Winder (39) all finished in the OUA's top four in points, with Aagaard leading the entire  OUA, and finishing just two points shy of the U SPORTS lead in scoring.

Not only was Guelph the only team with three different skaters in the top four for league points, but they were the only team with three players in the top 17 in OUA points.

"Those three guys are three of the hardest workers on our team as well," said Camp. "They all work hard every day in practice, they are excellent teammates, and they are all leaders in their own way setting a good example every day for everyone to follow. They have certainly been rewarded this year with some pretty impressive numbers but they have earned it. We'll need them to continue with that kind of effort for us to have a chance against Laurier."

On the defensive side, the Gryphons have featured a variety of talented players with nearly all of them having at least one season of experience under their belt. With the likes of second year players such as Matthew Timms, Justin Lemcke, Jesse Saban and Stephen Templeton taking on major minutes this year, Guelph's defence has been able to gel as a unit throughout the season. Then, add in the contributions of freshman Cole Cameron, along with graduating local product Zach McFadden, the Gryphons certainly boast the tools on the blue-line to be successful.

In the crease, Coach Camp has had two different net-minders that he could rely on all year. Having Andrew Masters return for his third year of eligibility, the Gryphons knew coming in to the season they would feature a tremendous go to option.

Then as the year progressed, Camp quickly realized he had another great option between the pipes in freshman goalie Brendan Cregan.

In 17 starts during his rookie campaign, Cregan posted a 13-2-2 record. Meanwhile, Masters being his usual reliable self, posted a 10-5-3 record for the Gryphs.

As the Gryphons prepare to meet the Golden Hawks in the OUA West Quarter-Finals, Guelph will have to be on top of their game in every aspect. All throughout this season, the OUA has seen plenty of parity with any team able to win against any one on any given night. Although the Golden Hawks may not jump off the page when looking at the stat sheet, Laurier does not have much for weaknesses and perform well in every facet. Like they have all throughout the year, the Gryphons will turn to their experienced leaders as they look to take the first step in getting back to the Queen's Cup.

"The biggest thing that the guys are learning about the OUA playoffs is that there has to be a great deal of urgency to everything that we do," Camp said. "In a three game series every period and shift becomes critical because if you lose a game you're suddenly on the edge. The series goes by in a blur, so the guys understand they have to be ready and play well in the moment."

"There is going to be adversity in the playoffs, and how we react to that adversity is important. Whether it is an untimely goal, untimely penalty, a bad bounce or anything like that, we will have to continue to play the right way and on the right side of the puck."

Game one of the best of three series will get underway at the Gryphons Centre Thursday evening with puck drop scheduled for 7:30.