GUELPH, Ont. - On Thursday night (Jan. 26) the Guelph Gryphons men's hockey team returned to the ice for their first home game since defeating the Laurier Golden Hawks in the 13th annual Frosty Mug at the Sleeman Centre last week. The Gryphons took the ice at the Gryphon Centre looking to bounce back after suffering a 9-4 loss to the Lakehead Thunderwolves in Thunder Bay last Friday (Jan. 20), and hoping to kick-start a late season playoff push with just six games remainign in the 2022-23 regular season schedule. After a hard-hitting match between the Gryphons and visiting TMU Bold the Bold would leave Guelph with a 4-1 win. 

The opening period saw the Gryphons come out firing and immediately putting the pressure on the Bold. With much of the opening minutes being spent in the TMU zone the Gryphons would be rewarded for their efforts as Luke Bigell would redirect a Cole Cameron shot past the blocker of the Bold goaltender to gve the Gryphons an early 1-0 lead. Bignell's goal was his 7th of the 2022-23 campaign and 2nd in three games after scoring the game winning goal in last week's Frosty Mug game. The remainder of the period would see both teams with quality scoring chances that were thwarted by the Gryphon and Bold goaltenders. The opening period would come to a close with the Gryphons maintaining their 1-0 lead after 20 minutes. 

To open the second period the Gryphons would find themselves down a man, after a post-whistle scuffle to end the first period would result in a Gryphon roughing penalty. After killing off the TMU man-advantage the Gryphons would appear to be back on the gas pedal but a Bold score just over six minuets into the period would put a halt to any momentum headed the Gryphs way. A couple minutes after the midway point in the period the Bold would take their first lead of the game after a shot was deflected multiple times and left Brendan Cregan with no chance to make the save. Offsetting penalties late in the period would give the Gryphons their best chance to tie the game but with the two teams returning to even strength the period would come to an end with the Bold leading 2-1. 

The final frame would open with the Bold on the penalty kill after taking a penalty late in the second period. Despite not scoring on the man-advantage the Gryphons would get some luck, with TMU taking back-to-back penalties to give the U of G men a 5-on-3 opportunity. The Gryphons would be unable to generate any quality scoring chances with a two man advantage and take a penalty of their own shortly after to erase the remaining powerplay opportunity. Midway through the third the Bold would extend their lead while on the powerplay, and less than two minutes later would make it a 4-1 game after a Gryphon turnover in the neutral zone. With the Gryphons struggling to stay out of the penalty box for the remainder of the game the Bold would ed up taking the win 4-1. 

The Gryphons will look to (bounce back/pick up their second win in a row) when they take the ice at the Capri Pizzeria Complex in Windsor tomorrow night (Jan. 27) to take on the Windsor Lancers. Puck drop is set for 7:30pm and fans unable to make the trip to Windsor can catch the game live, online at www.oua.tv.