GUELPH, Ont. - The University of Guelph Gryphons men's hockey team returned to ice at the Gryphon Centre for on Saturday night (Jan. 7) the first time in the new year when they played host to the Western Mustangs. The Gryphons opened up the second half of the 2022-23 season in Toronto on Friday night (Jan. 6) and suffered a 5-4 overtime loss to the York Lions. The Gryphons returned home looking to bounce back again the rival Mustangs but fell short, suffering another heartbreking 5-4 loss in overtime. 

The game opened with the Gryphons quickly finding themselves down a man, after a Gryphon penalty would send the visiting Mustangs to the man-advantage less than a minute into the opening period. The Gryphons penalty kill would come through, bringing the two teams back to even strength. At the midway point in the period Western would open the scoring and take the 1-0 lead. The Gryphons would respond however, as Emmett Gordon would skate up the wing and beat the Western goaltender five-hole for his 2nd of the season. The two teams would head to the locker for the first intermission tied 1-1. After some back-and-forth between the two teams to open the second period the Gryphons would break the tie and take 2-1 lead on an Ethan Doyle goal. Following a point shot from Liam Ham, Doyle would pounce on the rebound and net his 3rd of the season. The remainder of the second frame would be all Mustangs, as they would score three unanswered, including one on the powerplay, to take a 4-2 lead heading into the third period. 

The third period would be all defense, as neither team would be able to generate quality scoring chances with just 6 total shots at the midway point in the frame. A few minutes past the halfway point Zach Roberts would fire a pass out from the corner onto the stick of Zachary Poirier would send a wrist shot past the glove of Western goalie Jack McNaughton. With momentum on their side and being down just one, the Gryphons turned on the burners and put the pressure on the visiting team. With under a minute remaining in the game their efforts would be rewarded as Nolan DeGurse would send a beautiful pass across the Western zone to Anthony Tabak who would beat a diving McNaughton and send the game to overtime. 

Overtime would come to an end with an all to familiar result as the Mustangs would score less than a minute in to hand the Gryphons their second 5-4 overtime loss in as many night. 

The Gryphons will look to bounce next week when the return to the Gryphon Centre to take on the Lakehead Thunderwolves. Puck drop is set for 7:30pm with tickets available at gryphons.ca/tickets. fans unable to attend the game can watch it live, online at www.oua.tv.