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University of Guelph Athletics

MHKY Nick Boyer
4
Western WES
5
Winner Guelph GPH
Western WES
4
Final
5
Guelph GPH
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 F
Western WES 2 1 1 4
Guelph GPH 1 2 2 5

Game Recap: Hockey - Men |

MHKY: Gryphons Score Twice in Third Period to Shock Western 5-4

Henderson and Stevens Tally 47 Seconds Apart in Comeback Win

GUELPH – Consistency has been difficult to achieve for the Guelph Gryphons men's hockey team early in the OUA season. And while the work to sharpen their game will continue, the Gryphons pulled one out of the fire Thursday night. Marc Stevens and Mathieu Henderson scored third-period goals 47 seconds apart to help Guelph come back and defeat the Western Mustangs 5-4 in a wild game at the Gryphon Centre Arena.
 
For a Gryphons team depleted by injuries and suspensions, the points were well earned.
 
"What a character win for the guys," said head coach Shawn Camp. "We have faced some adversity and this was a terrific character builder, a great come-from-behind victory. The guys worked very hard."
 
The Gryphons had an answer for the speedy Mustangs all night. But when Spenser Cobbold broke a 3-3 tie 3:24 into the third period with a beautiful wrister into the top right corner of the Guelph net on a Western power play, the hosts had work to do to avoid a fourth loss in five games.
 
They apparently had fight left in them. Henderson equalized at 11:56 with a pretty toe drag and shot that beat Dan Davies top shelf. And moments later, Stevens went hard to the net and banged a loose puck in near the left post to give the Gryphons their first lead of the night.
 
"We kept working and chipping away," said Camp. "Every time they took a lead, we found a way to come back."
 
Guelph looked like they would easily close out the game when Western was whistled for a four-minute penalty in the late stages after Guelph defenceman Patrick Kudla was cut with a high stick. But the Mustangs pulled the goalie and manufactured a chance to tie with a hard shot from the right circle, forcing goaltender Andrew Masters into making a huge save.
 
Todd Winder, Tryg Strand and Nicholas Boyer also scored for Guelph (2-2-1), while Masters made stoped 29 of 33 shots faced. The Gryphons outshot Western 35-33, 15 of them coming in the frenetic third period.
 
The pace was fast and the goals were plentiful, usually coming in bunches. Western led 2-1 after 20 minutes on goals from Trevor Warnaar and and Kolyen Olynek less than five minutes apart. Warnaar got it going just 3:40 in when he beat Masters but Boyer responded for Guelph a couple minutes later. Olynek restored the Mustangs' lead when he tallied at 8:33 of the first.
 
Guelph came out of the intermission much more aggressive and spent a lot of time in the Western end. The pressure paid off at 6:51 when Henderson entered the zone on the left and centred a pass to a streaking Strand, who managed to get the bouncing puck past Davies.
 
The exchange of blows continued. Matt Watson was left alone at the point and took a pass from Robert Polesello behind the net, teeing a up a slapshot that beat Masters on the glove side at 8:25.
 
It took Guelph just 26 seconds to answer as Winder scored from a tight angle to the right of Davies, tying the game at 3-3. Winder's goal was his fourth of the young season.
 
"He's been on fire," Camp said of the rookie centre from Uxbridge, ON, who last played with the Newmarket Hurricances of the OJHL.
 
The Gryphons had to be sharp after taking a couple consecutive penalties in the second period but the special teams units limited Western chances and when the Mustangs did get to the net, Masters responded with some key saves.
 
Guelph is back on home ice Saturday, Oct. 28 when the Windsor Lancers come to town. The puck drops at 7:30 pm.
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