GUELPH – The Guelph Gryphons men's hockey team have looked like a collegiate version of the '80s era Edmonton Oilers. And Guelph's recent brand of firewagon hockey was on display again Saturday afternoon at the Gryphon Centre Arena. The scorching-hot team filled the net for the second straight game, defeating the Nipissing Lakers 8-4 on the 10^th annual Hockey Day in Gryphonville.
 
The dominant performance ran the Gryphons' current win streak to eight games. Guelph (10-3-1, first place in the OUA West) now has 17 goals in less than 24 hours after defeating Laurentian 9-5 Friday.
 
Several former Gryphon Jack Pos MVP Award winners were in attendance for the special date on the calendar. The group, which was set to be recognized later in the evening at a Hockey Day in Gryphonville dinner held on campus, was treated to another fun one as Guelph began to score goals in bunches.
 
And there was no doubt that the current crop of Gryphons would try and perform for them despite playing Friday night. Head coach Shawn Camp was impressed with the energy and felt his players really moved their feet well in an important game after a quick turnaround.

"It's an honour to play in front of our alumni," said Camp, who is well versed in the program's history. "Our guys really appreciate the work of the Gryphons that came before them. The best part is that they get it."
 
Captain Scott Simmonds scored two goals with an assist, while Trevor Morbeck and Ryan Migliaccio also found the net twice. Todd Winder and Michael Stevens each had a goal, with Marc Stevens, J.P. Villeneuve, and defencemen Josh McFadden and Patrick Kudla each picking up a pair of assists.
 
Jason Da Silva had tons of goal support but he made a few great saves among his 22 stops.
 
The Gryphons struck quickly and often. Morbeck got things started when he took a feed from Seth Swenson and flipped a nice backhander up high over Nipissing goaltender Brent Moran at 14:26 of the first period. Lakers' forward Danny Desrochers equalized on a Nipissing power play soon after but Winder replied 1:34 later to give the Gryphons a lead they would not relinquish.
 
Guelph really pushed the pace in the second period with Simmonds registering his first of the night on the power play just 13 seconds in. After Erik Robichaud beat Da Silva to get Nipissing within a goal, the Gryphons exploded for score five unanswered, including four goals from Simmonds, Migliaccio, Stevens and Morbeck in a span of three minutes and 16 seconds in the second period.

Moran was replaced by Domenic Graham to start the third and the hosts beat the newcomer once in the final 20 minutes when Migliaccio notched his second, and Guelph's eighth of the day, at the 9:32 mark. Camp was less than pleased with the Gryphons' defensive effort against Laurentian but it was better Saturday, despite allowing a couple third-period consolation goals to the Lakers.
 
Guelph has outscored opponents 44-21 in the eight-game win streak. The Gryphons also lead the entire OUA with 65 goals in 14 games.
 
"We've always been a pretty offensive team but the last few weeks, pucks have been bouncing our way and going in," Camp said. "We want to keep being responsible defensively and create our offence the right way. It's a fun game to play.

"It was a real good weekend. The guys showed how offensive they can be. When you move the puck, you create scoring chances."
 
The Gryphons complete the 2017 portion of the OUA schedule next Friday and Saturday with road games against Toronto and Windsor.