LONDON, ON – The Gryphons hopes of repeating as OUA Champions were officially cut short late Sunday night in London. However, their hopes of returning to the national championship tournament are still very much alive. Sunday night at Thompson Arena on the campus of Western University, the Gryphons men's hockey team lost 5-1 to the Mustangs in Game 3 of the OUA West Finals. With the victory, Western wins the best-of-three series two-games-to-one and will now play host to the UQTR Patriotes in the 105th edition of the Queen's Cup. The Gryphons meanwhile still have plenty to play for as they head to the OUA's Bronze medal game. The winner of the Bronze medal game will secure the OUA's third and final berth into the CIS University Cup Men's Hockey Championships. The Gryphons will travel to Ottawa on Saturday, March 12 to face the Carleton Ravens with a trip to Halifax up for grabs.
 
After pulling out a 3-1 win over Western in Game 2 on Saturday night in Guelph, the Gryphons were eager to get another shot at the Mustangs on Sunday night in Game 3. But they would have to wait for that opportunity. In fact, everybody would have to wait. Puck drop was delayed by 1 hour and 20 minutes after an afternoon women's hockey game turned into a marathon. Western's women's team played host to Nipissing in an OUA semifinal, but the scoreless affair wasn't decided until the third overtime period when Western finally found the back of the net and booked a spot in the McCaw Cup. Coincidentally, they will face the Gryphons women's hockey team in the OUA final. By 8:50pm, the puck had finally dropped in the men's game between Western and Guelph and, just like in Game 2, it would be the Mustangs who would open the scoring.
 
Eight minutes into the opening period, Western would jump out to a 1-0 lead when Trevor Warnaar would break in alone, fan on his initial attempt, but then slide it past and out-stretched Andrew D'Agostini. D'Agostini, who made several big saves throughout the early goings, had no chance on Western's second goal of the game which came early in the second period when a point shot was re-directed in by Robert Polesello. After scoring three times in the third period the previous night, the Gryphons found themselves needing a similar effort on Sunday as they found themselves trailing 2-0 heading to the third.
 
In the final period of play, the goals seemed to be suddenly coming one after another. As were the penalties. After Western extended their lead to 3-0 on a wrap-around goal from Spenser Cobbold, the Gryphons would answer right back on Brett Appio's first goal of the playoffs. However, Western's Alex Micallef scored what was the third goal in a span of 1:58 to put the Mustangs up 4-1. Western would add another power play goal late to cap the scoring and make it 5-1.
 
In the third period alone, the two teams combined for 24 minutes of penalties as emotions boiled over on more than one occasion. Each team finished the game with 20 minutes of penalties on 10 infractions. Western scored twice on the power play on the night, while the Gryphons went 0-for-6 with the man advantage, including failing to find the back of the net on an extended 5-on-3 opportunity early in the third period.
 
D'Agostini made 30 saves on the night while Rob De Fulviis and Lenny Fabbri picked up assists on the Appio goal.
 
The Gryphons will now shift their focus to the Carleton Ravens for their upcoming OUA Bronze medal game. The two teams met just once during the regular season with Guelph winning 2-0 in Ottawa back on November 27 over the then-No. 9 Ravens. Puck drop for Saturday's game is set for 7pm. The winner of the Guelph-Carleton game will claim the final spot in the University Cup.
 
TEAMS THAT HAVE ALREADY QUALIFIED FOR THE CIS CHAMPIONSHIPS
 
Saskatchewan (Canada West)
Alberta (Canada West)
UNB (AUS)
St. FX (AUS)
St. Mary's (Host)
UQTR (OUA)
Western (OUA)
Guelph or Carleton (OUA)