The Guelph Gryphons (0-1-0) faced-off against their rivals the Western Mustangs (1-0-0) tonight in the 2010-2011 season-opener at the Gryphon Centre.  After a back and forth battle, the Mustangs ended up with a one goal advantage to steal the 3-2 win in regulation.
 

Alex Magera (Edmonton, Alta.) and rookie Michael McFarlane (Ajax, Ont.) were the two, Gryphon goal-scorers, while Keaton Turkiewicz (Brantford, Ont.), Steve Reese (Dorchester, Ont.) and Kevin Baker (Georgetown, Ont.) tallied scores for the Mustangs.
 

New Gryphon netminder, Cody St. Jacques (Iroquois Falls, Ont.), was given the nod for Guelph tonight making 29 saves on 32 shots.  St. Jacques looked sharp in his first start in the Gryphon uniform playing a major role in Western's lack of success in the scoring department in the third period.
 

For Western, Anthony Grieco (Brampton, Ont.) started between the pipes and, although he looked a little shaky to start the second period, mustered up a pretty solid performance to claim the win, saving 28 of the 30 shots he faced.
 

Western would be the first to get on the board midway through the first frame.  With a man-advantage in the Gryphons' zone the Mustangs were able to capitalize on a favourable bounce, as a blocked shot rolled around the corner and along the end boards to the stick of a Mustang forward who released the puck to the front of the net where Turkiewicz one-timed the pass, beating St. Jacques and taking the 1-0 lead.
 

Matt Lyall (Richmond Hill, Ont.) was a workhorse for the Gryphons throughout the first period and most of the game.  Although unable to get on the score sheet, Lyall's quick feet seemed to put him near the puck at all times.  Forechecking, backchecking and dangling the puck on a thread, Lyall's performance tonight showed great promise for games to come.
 

The Gryphons came out strong in the second period and didn't take long to even the score.  Just twenty-eight seconds into the frame Justin Gvora (Thunder Bay, Ont.) battled hard for the puck in the Western zone, gaining possession and throwing the puck on net.  Gvora's attempt would not find the back of the net, however Grieco lost sight of the puck and Alex Magera, streaking to the net, hacked at the loose puck and beat Grieco to knot the game at one.
 

Guelph took the lead later in the period on a goal from newly acquired forward Michael McFarlane.  Zach Lillie (Bracebridge, Ont.) brought the puck into the Mustang zone and slapped a hard shot on net and the juicy rebound was left on the opposite side for McFarlane to hammer home.  The Gryphons would head to the dressing room ahead, 2-1, after forty minutes.
 

In the third, Western would even the score again on another one-timer in front of the net.  Steve Reese picked up the second goal for Western to tie the game, getting the puck from Aaron Snow (Windsor, Ont.) behind the net.
 

Five minutes later, Western would regain the lead on a giveaway by the Gryphons in front of the net.  Kevin Baker was the lucky recipient of the misplay and snapped a quick shot past St. Jacques.  
 

The go-ahead goal would be the final goal of the game and Guelph was saddled with the loss.

The Gryphons jump on a bus and head to St. Catharine's tomorrow night (Oct. 8) where they will look to pick up their first win of the regular season against the Brock Badgers.  The puck drops at 7:15.

Game Summary

Western 3 at Guelph 2 - Status: Final

Thursday, October 7, 2010 - Gryphon Centre Arena

Western 1 0 2 - 3

Guelph 0 2 0 - 2

1st Period-1, Western, Turkiewicz 1 (Furlong, Snow), 9:13 (PP). Penalties-Nemeth Uwo (slashing), 5:44; McFarlane Gue (high sticking), 8:14; Corbeil Uwo (hooking), 11:15.

2nd Period-2, Guelph, Magera 1 (Gvora, Priamo), 0:28. 3, Guelph, McFarlane 1 (Lillie, Jefferies), 15:16. Penalties-McFarlane Gue (tripping), 1:03; Lillie Gue (unsportsmanlike cnd.), 5:35; Corbeil Uwo (tripping), 8:24; Priamo Gue (tripping), 10:31; Brook Gue (tripping), 16:24.

3rd Period-4, Western, Reese 1 (Snow, Farmanara), 4:09. 5, Western, Baker 1   9:17. Penalties-Lamb Uwo (checking from behind, game misconduct), 10:11; Magera Gue (slashing), 10:25; McQuade Uwo (hooking), 14:28.

Shots on Goal-Western 10-13-9-32. Guelph 10-8-12-30.

Goalies-Western, Grieco 1-0-0 (30 shots-28 saves). Guelph, St. Jacques 0-1-0 (32 shots-29 saves).

{Source: Jacob Cassidy}