Gryphons defeat Windsor in New Year Opener 8-4
Guelph, ON (January 3, 2017) - The Guelph Gryphons Men's Hockey Team used an eight goal outburst to kick off 2017 as they defeated the Windsor Lancers 8-4 on Tuesday night at the Gryphon Centre. The win extends Guelph's winning streak to five games and a 6-1 record at home this season as they improve to 10-7-0 overall in the standings, sitting in fourth in the OUA West just two points behind the Lancers who fall to 10-7-2.
Guelph would turn it on after Windsor took the lead with three straight goals to start the second period and take a 3-1 lead. Guelph's power play would prove to be very pivotal, going 3-6 on the night. Despite the 1:08 span in the second period, the Gryphons would gain control of the game as their offence began to click in the second half of the game, equaling their highest goal output this season and taking advantage of the Windsor's back end which struggled in the final 30 minutes.
The Gryphons would get on the board in the dying seconds of the first period off the stick of Robert Lepine with the man advantage. Lepine received a great feed from Seth Swenson and then fire one home blocker side and inside the left post for his team leading 11th goal of the season.
The Lancers would then jump on the Gryphons as they would start the period on fire. Tyson Ness and Blake Blondeel would stun the hosts with two really quick goals 34 seconds apart for the Lancers as they would capitalize on the sluggish Gryphon start. Things would snowball even more for the hosts as the Lancers would earn a penalty shot as Konnor Hass would beat Scott Stajcer low and in 68 seconds, the Gryphons saw their 1-0 turn into a Lancers 3-1 lead.
The Gryphons would fight back in a big way led by their power play. Tryg Strand would get the party started with his fourth of the season on the power play as he would fire one from just above the crease and into the back of the net.
Seth Swenson joined in on the party with Cody Thompson setting him to score backhand into the top of the net for his seventh of the year, to tie it up a 3-3.
The Captain Scott Simmonds capped it off 42 seconds later with his second goal of the year, as he broke in alone to tuck it inside the left post to give Guelph a 4-3 lead in a six goal period.
The goal scoring would carry over to the third period. After the Lancers tied it up early, the Gryphons would respond a minute later. Manny Gialedakis would score the first of his two of goals of the night as his shot took a deflection and into the top right corner of the net for the 5-4 Guelph lead.
Mark Raycroft would extend the lead as his backhander found the back of the net for his third goal on the season and it would be more than enough for hosts as Cody Thompson and Gialedakis would tack on goals late.
Nine Gryphons would finish with a multi-point game led by Swenson's three points. Guelph would outshoot Windsor 42-24 as they controlled most of the game. Scott Stajcer made 20 saves tonight in a winning effort for the Gryphons.
The Gryphons will be back in action on Sunday as will be on the road at York before their next home game on January 12 as they host the Varsity Blues on Aggie Night.