Guelph Gryphons VS Windsor Lancers (Friday, November 5, 2010)

GUELPH- Coming off a big last week against UOIT, the Gryphons were hoping to carry their momentum into this weekend against the Lancers and it showed from the opening faceoff until the final buzzer.  Both teams played a high-intensity, aggressive game, but it would be the Gryphons who came out on top with the 3-1 victory.

Guelph newcomer, Andrew Loverock (Elmvale, Ont.) was given his first start of the season tonight and looked solid between the pipes.  Only allowing a single goal, Loverock stopped 20 of 21 shots to pick up the decision.

At the other end of the ice, Jim Watt (Edmonton, Alta.), played an excellent game for the Lancers stopping 34 shots.  Unfortunately for Watt, the Gryphons were able to capitalize on good scoring opportunities and the netminder was saddled with the loss.

Guelph's offense looked hot for the second game in a row, putting plenty of pucks on net and keeping possession deep in the Windsor end.  J.T. Mac Donald (Niagara Falls, Ont.) led the Gryphons tonight, picking up Guelph's first goal and adding a helper on the last goal. Cale Jefferies (Glenboro, Man.) and Zach Lillie (Bracebridge, Ont.) picked up the other two scores for the Gryphons.

Windsor's only goal was scored by Lancer forward, Danny Anger (Woodslee, Alta.), with Kyle Makaric (LaSalle, Ont.) and Matt McCready (Kingsville, Ont.) picking up the assists.

It wasn't looking good for the Gryphons early in the first period, as the Lancers came out and netted their first of the game just two minutes in.  Catching Guelph on a line change, a deep cross-ice pass left a Windsor forward all alone against Loverock.  The first-year goaltender stood his ground and made a terrific save on the initial shot, but the puck would pop loose and streaking in behind the play, Lancer forward Danny Anger, chopped it past Loverock.  After the crowd in front of the goal dissipated, it was clear that the net had been pushed of its pegs before the puck went in.  A couple Gryphons argued the call, but to no avail and the score would count giving the Lancers the early 1-0 lead. 

The Gryphons didn't let the early lead get them down though, answering the goal just over two minutes later on a patiently, developed play close to the Windsor net.  Just as Guelph's powerplay expired, Justin Gvora (Thunder Bay, Ont.), who was waiting at the side of the Lancer net for a play to develop, spotted J.T. MacDonald drifting backwards across the front of the net.  Gvora put the puck to the tape of MacDonald's stick and MacDonald wasted no time slinging the puck past Watt, to knot the game 1-1.

Minutes later, the Gryphons took the 2-1 lead on a third effort by Cale Jefferies.  After getting two hard shots on net, both giving up rather juicy rebounds, Cale Jefferies finally got his stick on the puck and with Watt sprawled out on the ice, Jefferies roofed it on the Windsor netminder.

Both teams would remain off the scoresheet for the remainder of the first period and for the second period in its entirety.  The closest either team would come was when Matt Lyall (Richmond Hill, Ont.) fired a quick shot on net that dropped behind Watt and trickled passed the post.

In the third period it appeared as though Windsor might tie the game on a 2-on-1.  Bringing the puck in close on Loverock created an opportunity for an open-net chance after the puck had crossed the face of the Gryphon goaltender.  Loverock, realizing his position left him vulnerable, jumped across the crease and made a highlight reel save off the top of his arm and maintaining the Gryphon lead.

Guelph would notch an insurance marker midway through the period on a high-intensity scramble around the Windsor net.  After playing the puck behind the net, Watt was unable to get back between the posts, giving the Gryphons a few open chances.  The Lancer defenders did a good job of keeping rubber from crossing the goal line, until, that is, the puck drifted out between the faceoff circles where Zach Lillie put everything he had into a howitzer that tore into the meshing of the open net.

The Gryphons' two-goal advantage would be enough to seal the 3-1 victory for the squad and the team celebrated by crowding the net to congratulate Loverock on his first OUA victory in his first start for the Gryphons.

Tomorrow night (Nov. 6), the Gryphons are back at it, playing the second game of a two-game series with the Windsor Lancers.  The puck drops at 7:30pm at the Gryphon Centre.

By: Jacob Cassidy

GAME SUMMARY

Windsor 1 at Guelph 3 - Status: Final

Friday, November 5, 2010 - Gryphon Centre Arena

Windsor 1 0 0 - 1

Guelph 2 0 1 - 3

1st Period-1, Windsor, Anger 2 (Makaric, McCready), 1:55. 2, Guelph, Macdonald 3 (Gvora, Lyall), 4:23. 3, Guelph, Jefferies 1 (Guimond, Kusy), 7:00. Penalties-Vandehogen Wsr (cross checking), 2:19; Brook Gue (tripping), 7:16.

2nd Period- No Scoring.Penalties-Lombardi Wsr (roughing), 1:24; Campbell Gue (hooking), 1:24; Belan Gue (tripping), 13:01.

3rd Period-4, Guelph, Lillie 2 (Macdonald, Gvora), 10:08. Penalties-Lombardi Wsr (high sticking), 4:12; Campbell Gue (roughing), 13:47; Kiriakou Gue (unsportsmanlike cnd.), 16:31.

Shots on Goal-Windsor 7-11-3-21. Guelph 16-10-11-37.

Power Play Opportunities-Windsor 0 / 4; Guelph 0 / 2.

Goalies-Windsor, Watt 2-3-1 (37 shots-34 saves). Guelph, Loverrock 1-0-0 (21 shots-20 saves).