GUELPH, Ont. - On Friday night (Feb. 16) at the Gryphons Centre, the U SPORTS No. 3-ranked Gryphons women's hockey team defeated the Windsor Lancers 3-1 to officially clinch home-ice advantage throughout the 2024 McCaw Cup playoffs. One point was all the University of Guelph women's hockey team needed to bring their point total to heights no other team in the conference could reach and thanks to a dominant third period, the Gryphons earned three and picked up their 23rd win of the campaign. With one game remaining the Gryphons now sit atop the OUA with a record of 23-2-2 while Lancers, who are still fighting for a postseason berth, fall to 10-12-5. 

The Gryphons opened Friday's game immediately applying the pressure to their OUA West rivals, but a pair of penalties just 30 seconds apart provided the visiting team with a perfect opportunity to take an early lead. Windsor would do just that, with Lancer forward Jayden Cherry opening the scoring after a finding a loose rebound just outside the Gryphon crease. Despite out-shooting the Lancers 16-10 the Gryphons were unable to beat Windsor goaltender Kristen Swiatoschik in the opening 10 minutes and would head into the first intermission trailing by one. 

The second period would see plenty of scoring chances, including a Gryphon powerplay and a 5-on-3 opportunity, but with both goaltenders determined to avoid the next goal the second period of action would end scoreless and with the Windsor lead intact. Gryphon goaltender Sophie Helfenstein, who made her 4th consecutive start Friday night, turned aside 10 shots in the second period and would finish the game with 23 saves of 24 shots against. Helfenstein, a rookie with the Gryphons, has had an incredible start to her collegiate career, posting a 7-1 record while recording .940 save percentage and a 1.13 goals against average in 8 starts. 

It was the Gryphon captain Hannah Tait who finally broke through Swiatoschik's stellar play for the Lancers, scoring just 3:57 into the third period off of a tipped point shot from blueliner Sydnie Miller. It marked Tait's 15th goal of the season, taking sole possession of 2nd-place in the OUA's scoring race. With momentum on their side the Gryphons capitalized, doubling their total less than four minutes later when Maya Graham found Chihiro Suzuki in front of the Windsor net with a beautiful back-handed pass from behind the net. It was Suzuki's 5th score of the season and Graham's 14th point with Rylee Davison picking up the secondary assist for her 10th point of the campaign. With the Lancer goalie on the bench for an extra attacker in the late stages of the game, Maeve Sutherland-Case found the empty net for her 6th goal of the year, solidifying the U of G victory. 

The Gryphons (23-2-2) will face off with the Lancers again tomorrow in both teams' 2023-24 regular season finale. The game, which is set to begin at 7:30pm at the Gryphon Centre, will also serve as the Gryphons senior night celebration, recognizing the contributions of eight student-athletes over the course of their U of G careers. Tickets are available at gryphons.ca/tickets with the game also available on oua.tv for fans unable to attend.