Box Score
Waterloo, ON – Here is hoping we do not have to wait another 21 years until these two meet again in the postseason. In what was their first OUA playoff matchup since the 1992-1993 season, it was the Guelph Gryphons who came out on top of the Waterloo Warriors, winning the best-of-three OUA quarter-final series 2-games-to-1 thanks to a 4-1 victory on Sunday night.
Columbia Icefield Arena on the campus of the University of Waterloo has one of the smallest capacities in the CIS, but it can make for a great atmosphere. That was certainly the case Sunday evening as a good crowd was on hand to take in Game 3 between these local rivals. The opening period featured several quality scoring chances for both teams. Just two and a half minutes into the game, the Warriors fired a shot off the post; shortly after that, the Gryphons came agonizingly close themselves at the other end of the ice. Gryphon rookie
Scott Simmonds fired a shot that trickled past Waterloo goalie Mike Morrison who was left looking behind him in desperation. However, the Warriors were able to clear the puck from danger before it could cross the line.
One of the main themes of the series has been the rough and chippy play that has taken place. There was no shortage in that department in Game 3. Early on, the Warriors were the more undisciplined of the two teams and that would come back to bite them. An elbowing penalty by Waterloo forward Phillip Fife meant the Gryphons would start the second period on the power play. Gryphons leading scorer
Nick Huard would make it 1-0 Guelph by lifting his backhander over the outstretched pad of Morrison who was caught going the other way after some good puck movement.
Moments after the Gryphons jumped out to the lead, the Warriors would hit post yet again. This time, it was a slap shot from the point by Waterloo defenceman Mike Moffat that beat Gryphons rookie goalie
Andrew D'Agostini, but not the iron. Later in that same shift, the Warriors would struggle to clear their own zone and Guelph's top line would once again come through. This time, it was Huard picking up an assist as
Teal Burns made it 2-0 Guelph. Before the second period was said and done, the Warriors had hit the post a total of three times on the night. Gryphons goalie Andrew D'Agostini was certainly luck at times, but he also made a number of big saves. The former Peterborough Petes netminder was sharp, tallying 28 saves through 40 minutes as the Gryphons took a 2-0 lead into the final period.
In the third, Waterloo would continue to throw everything they had at the Gryphons net but were unable to find a way through. Four minutes in, the Warriors had a 2-on-1 break, but
Nick Trecapelli would come up with a big defensive play, intercepting the pass to keep the Gryphons lead at 2-0. It would stay that way until late in the third period, where D'Agostini would come up with his biggest save of the night. The Warriors out-shot the Gryphons 39-29 on the night but could not solve Guelph's first year goalie. With 2:34 remaining in regulation, a turnover by the Gryphons in their own zone would give the Warriors a mini 3-on-1 break. The puck would find its way to Waterloo's fifth year forward Kain Allicock who was all alone in front, but D'Agostini would rob him point blank for his 37
th save of the night. Still down by two, the Warriors would pull their goalie to get an extra attacker, but the move would backfire as
Jordan Mock's empty net goal with 1:41 made it 3-0 Guelph. The Warriors would spoil D'Agostini's shutout bid with 1:02 remaining, but a second empty net goal from the Gryphons would come with nine seconds remaining as
Carlos Amestoy would cap off the 4-1 victory for Guelph.
D'Agostini made 38 saves on the night, while Nick Huard finished with three points (one goal, two assists). The Gryphons are heading to the OUA West semi-finals for the second time in the last three seasons. The Gryphons will now face the fifth seeded University of Toronto Varsity Blues. Details regarding dates and times for those games to follow shortly.
