GUELPH, Ont. – On Thursday night (Jan. 12) the University of Guelph Gryphons men's hockey team hosted the Lakehead Thunderwolves in their third match of 2023. With their last matchup coming back on October 27^th and ending in a 7-3 Lakehead win, the Gryphons were looking to avenge their loss and bounce back from back-to-back 5-4 overtime losses to start the new year.
Despite a strong two periods the Gryphons would ultimately fall to the Thunderwolves 5-3.
 
The first period saw the Gryphons get off to one of their best starts of the season. After killing off an early penalty the Gryphons turned on the pressure and were rewarded as Anthony Tabak would force a Thunderwolves turnover that would find the stick of Cole Cameron. Cameron would send a back-handed pass onto the stick of Ted McGeen how would fire a wrist shot and beat the Lakehead goaltender, glove side for his 6^th goal of the season. Just minutes late the Gryphons receive a chance to extend their lead on the man-advantage thanks to a Lakehead penalty. With just seconds remaining on the power play Luke Bignell finds Ethan Doyle on a 3-on-1 opportunity who cuts across the crease and extends to net his 4^th in the season and 2^nd in as many games. The two teams would head into the intermission with the Gryphons leading 2-1.
 
The second frame saw another strong Gryphon performance that would be kick started by a double-minor from the visiting team, allowing Guelph to continue to pressure the opposing Thunderwolves. With just over 5-minutes remaining in the period Cameron Searles would find the puck after a Lakehead neutral-zone turnover. After skating into the attacking zone, he would send a pass to Nolan DeGurse who would beat a diving Lakehead goaltender o regain the 2-goal Gryphon lead. The Gryphons would end the period with a strong penalty kill and head into the 2nd intermission up 3-1.
 
The Thunderwolves flipped the script to start the final period of regulation, scoring just minutes into the frame to cut the Gryphon lead in half. After some back-and-forth the Thunderwolves would tie the game at 3 apiece with just over 8 minutes remaining. Just over 4 minutes later they would take their first lead of the game after killing off a Gryphon power play. Another Lakehead goal with under a minute remaining would seal the 5-3 win for the visiting team.
 
The Gryphons (5-5-7) will look to bounce back on Saturday (Jan. 14) when they head to Toronto to take on the U of T Varsity Blues. Puck drop is set for 7pm at Varsity Arena and for fans unable to attend, can be watched live at www.oua.tv.