Box Score
Halifax, NS – When the Gryphons men's hockey team awoke back on Thursday morning, the day of their first game at the 2015 CIS Championships, they found motivational letters and messages from Gryphon hockey alumni scattered on their breakfast tables. The messages ranged from a simple "Good luck boys!" to "Great to see the old Aggie spirit!" One message in particular, from Mike Doersam (class of 1967) rang especially true; it read "I know you will represent the University of Guelph well!" Despite falling short against UNB, these Gryphons have certainly done just that. 

Saturday afternoon in Halifax, the University of Guelph men's hockey team lost 5-2 to the second seeded University of New Brunswick Varsity Reds in a CIS Semi-final matchup. With the win, UNB books a spot in the University Cup final, while the Gryphons will now play UQTR (L'Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières) in the CIS Bronze Medal game Sunday at 1pm ET. If the Gryphons can win that Bronze Medal game they would become just the sixth team in program history, and first in 17 seasons, to medal at the CIS Championships. 

The Gryphons came into this game considered by many to be heavy underdogs against a Varsity Reds team that not only has an extremely talented roster, but also an abundance of experience at this stage with five University Cups to their credit (2013, 2011, 2009, 2007, 1998). Of course, being considered an underdog is nothing new for this Gryphons team who could not wait to get their shot at UNB. But they would have to wait. Both teams would. That is because there was a brief power outage at the Scotiabank Centre in Halifax moments before puck drop. After several minutes of waiting, while the starters on each team skated in circles in an attempt to stay loose, the lights would finally come back on and the game was underway. Unfortunately for the Gryphons, it would be the Varsity Reds who would be the first to light up the scoreboard. Just one minute and 45 seconds into the game, UNB would open the scoring when a point shot through traffic found its way in front of the Guelph net; a scramble ensued and eventually it would be Varsity Reds forward Philippe Halley (Quebec City, QC) who was able to pot the game's opening goal to give UNB an early 1-0 lead. 

As they have done all postseason, the Gryphons would answer back and it would be the team's leading scorer who would do the honours. At the 8:01 mark of the opening period, Guelph's third year centre Nick Huard (North Bay, ON) would tie the game at 1-1 when his quick release from the high slot would trickle through the five-hole of UNB goalie David Shantz. It was Huard's team-leading eighth goal of the playoffs and despite being outshot 15-4 in the opening period, the Gryphons and the Varsity Reds were tied 1-1 heading to the second. 

UNB forward Cam Braes (Shawnigan Lake, BC) scored four straight goals in the Varsity Reds 6-2 win over Windsor in their opening game of the tournament. Three of those four goals for Braes came on the power play. He was at it again on Saturday. Six minutes into the second period with UNB working with the man advantage, Braes would re-direct home a point shot for his fifth goal of the CIS Championships as the Varsity Reds re-took the lead to go up 2-1. Shortly after that, UNB would be called for interference, sending Guelph to the power play. From the top of the circle, third year defencemen Nick Trecapelli (Guelph, ON) would fire home his fourth goal of the playoffs to tie the game at 2-2 as the Gryphons were showing that they are more than capable of hanging with the very best in the country. Once again however, UNB was quick to respond. Midway through the second period, a 2-on-1 break for the Varsity Reds would end with Philippe Maillet (Lachenaie, NB) 'saucering' a pass over to Philippe Halley who would one-time home his second goal of the game to give UNB a 3-2 lead. The Varsity Reds would continue to apply pressure for the remainder of the second period, but the Gryphons were able to hang in there thanks to some great goaltending and timely defensive plays. 

Still in the second period, shortly after UNB had hit the post on one chance, they would come close yet again when a mad scramble ended with a puck being deflected up and over a sprawled out Andrew D'Agostini . With D'Agostini now out of position, the loose puck was sitting in the crease in front of an open cage. Four different Gryphons laid out to swat the puck from harm's way to keep it a 3-2 game. After 40 minutes of play, UNB had outshot Guelph 33-11 but it was still anybody's game. 

In the third period, the Gryphons would come close to tying it up when Scott Simmonds (Uxbridge, ON) entered the UNB zone with good speed and fired a shot high blocker side that seemed destined for the top corner. Varsity Reds goalie David Shantz was not able to react quick enough to get a blocker on it, but was fortunate to have the puck hit the knob of his stick and stay out. As the third period progressed, the Gryphons started to send some more bodies forward and encourage their defencemen to pinch more aggressively in hopes of generating some more scoring chances and finding the equalizer. In doing so, they left themselves vulnerable at the other end. But that's ok. Andrew D'Agostini is back there. Midway through the third period, UNB broke out on a 3-on-1. Some great tic-tac-toe passing had the crowd anticipating a fourth goal of the game for the Varsity Reds, but instead of cheering for a fourth goal, "oohs" and "awws" would echo throughout the Scotiabank Centre after D'Agostini was able to deny a UNB player from point blank to keep it a one goal game. It was D'Agostini's 35th, and final, save of the night. D'Agostini would go on to be named 'Player of the Game' for the second consecutive game.

Guelph's best opportunity to tie the game came with around six minutes remaining in regulation when they were sent to the power play following a high sticking call against UNB. Unfortunately the Gryphons were not able to convert with the man advantage as UNB's penalty kill unit came up with some blocked shots and timely clearances. With 65 seconds left, the Varsity Reds would get some insurance as Philippe Halley was able to complete his hat-trick by finishing off some nice passing to make it a 4-2 game. Halley would also add an empty netter for his fourth goal of the day, in a game that was much closer than the 5-2 final score would indicate. 

UNB moves on to face the defending champion and top seeded Alberta Golden Bears in the final,Sunday at 5:30pm ET on Sportsnet 360. The Bronze Medal game will be played Sunday at 1pm ET and will be a re-match of the 104th Queen's Cup as the Gryphons will face UQTR. That game can be seen live online at www.CIS-SIC.tv . The Gryphons still have plenty to play for. If they can win that game on Sunday, they will be the first Gryphons men's hockey team to bring home a CIS medal to campus since 1997. So, as some former U of G grads might say: good luck on Sunday, boys. Show that old Aggie spirit. And continue to represent the University of Guelph well!