GUELPH, Ont. - This week's playoff preview features a trio of Gryphon varsity teams pursuing championships. The Gryphons women's rugby team and men's lacrosse team are off to their respective national tournaments while the men's rugby team faces off with the Laurier Golden Hawks in semifinal action. See below for more information on the three teams in postseason action this week.
WOMEN'S RUGBY
2023 U SPORTS Women's Rugby Championships
Wednesday, November 1, 2023 - 3pm
TELUS-Université Laval Stadium | Quebec City, QC
Guelph Gryphons vs StFX X-Women (U SPORTS Quarterfinal)
Broadcast: CBC Sports
After claiming OUA silver for a second consecutive season, the Gryphons women's rugby team heads east to Quebec City for the 2023 U SPORTS Women's Rugby Championships, hosted by the Laval Rouge et Or from November 1-5, 2023. The No. 5-seeded Gryphons will open up the tournament with a match against the 2023 AUS champion and No. 4-seeded StFX X-Women on Wednesday afternoon (Nov. 1 @ 3pm) in one of the four U SPORTS quarterfinal games. The Gryphons are searching for their third national banner in program history, having been crowned national champions twice before (2011, 1998). Wednesday's matchup between Guelph and StFX can be seen live online at
cbc.ca/sports. The winner of the Gryphons and X-Women's match will advance to the national semifinals on Friday, November 3 and take on the winner of Ottawa (No. 1-seed)/Victoria (No. 8-seed).
MEN'S RUGBY
OUA Semifinals
Friday, November 3, 2023 - 7pm
Varsity Field | Guelph, ON
Guelph Gryphons vs Laurier Golden Hawks
On Friday night (Nov. 3) Varsity Field will feature a rematch of the 2022 OUA Men's Rugby Championship as the Guelph Gryphons men's rugby team hosts the Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks in conference semifinal action.
The two-time defending conference champion Gryphons will look to remain undefeated in 2023, and take one step closer to an OUA three-peat, as they attempt to take down the Golden Hawks for the third time in a calendar year. The Gryphons enter the semifinal coming off an opening-round bye after securing the top spot in the OUA regular season with a 6-0 record while Laurier comes to Guelph after a quarterfinal win over the Waterloo Warriors last weekend. This will be the second meeting between the two teams this season after the Gryphons previously defeated the Golden Hawks 33-12 in the season opener on September 9 in Waterloo. It also marks the third meeting in one year, with the two teams facing off in last year's championship match which
saw the Gryphons capture a 5th OUA title in program history with a 28-19 win. The winner of Friday's match will advance to the OUA final and face the winner of the Queen's/Brock semifinal. The top two teams from Ontario will also qualify for nationals, with the 2023 Canadian University Men's Rugby Championship set to take place Nov. 15-19 in Langley, British Columbia.
The Gryphons men's rugby team are also busy off the field, where they have continued to support charitable fundraising efforts for "HeadsUpGuys" a cause that is near and dear to the hearts of so many members of the Gryphon rugby family. Throughout the entire month of November, the Gryphons men's rugby team will be focusing fundraising efforts for this organization, something the program has been doing for a year now since
the passing of Gryphon teammate, Luke MacDonald, in 2022. HeadsUpGuys is a charitable cause that works to improve mental health in men and suicide prevention. Those
interested in donating can head to the Gryphons men's rugby 'HeadsUpGuys' donation page online, with additional (cash) donations also being accepted at the gate on Friday night at Varsity Field.
MEN'S LACROSSE
2023 Baggataway Cup
Friday, November 3, 2023 - 4:30pm
Justin Chiu Stadium | Peterborough, ON
Guelph Gryphons vs McGill Redbirds (CUFLA Quarterfinal)
Tournament Schedule: cufla.ca/schedule
Broadcast: LacrosseTV
After
defeating the McMaster Marauders this past Sunday (Oct. 29) the Guelph Gryphons men's lacrosse team is bound for Peterborough and the 2023 Baggataway Cup national championship tournament, hosted by the Trent Excalibur.
As the No. 2-seed in the West Division the Gryphons will open up the tournament against the East Division's No. 3-seeded McGill Redbirds on Friday (Nov. 3 @ 4:30pm) in one of two CUFLA quarterfinals.The Gryphons are looking for their sixth national title in program history, having been crowned Baggataway Cup champions on five previous occasions (2014, 2013, 2008, 2000 & 1995). The winner of Friday night's matchup between the Gryphons and Redbirds will advance to the semifinal round on Saturday, November 4 and face off with either Carleton Ravens or Western Mustangs as the top seeded teams in the East and West.
