GUELPH, Ont. – The Gryphons men's hockey team suffered a 4-1 loss on home ice Friday night (Jan. 12) as they played host to the two-time defending OUA champion, UQTR (Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières) Patriotes. UQTR, the No. 3-ranked team in the country, jumped out to a 2-0 lead after 20 minutes of play. The Gryphons were able to cut the lead in half thanks to a
Nolan DeGurse power play goal in the 2nd period, but the Patriotes restored the two-goal advantage late in the 2nd period on a goal from Anthony Munroe-Boucher. UQTR would add an empty-net goal in the 3rd period to leave Guelph with a 4-1 win and improve their record to 15-5-0 on the season. The Gryphons meanwhile, fall to 9-12-0 on the season with the loss.
Friday night's matchup at the Gryphon Centre featured a pair of teams who have accounted for the last three OUA titles, with UQTR claiming the Queen's Cup in each of the past two season, with Guelph hoisting the trophy in 2019-20. It also marked UQTR's first trip to Guelph in almost a decade, with November 6, 2015 marking the last time the Patriotes were on University of Guelph campus. Despite the infrequent meetings, there was no love lost between the two sides, with a combined 14 different trips to the penalty box made on the night, including 10-minute misconducts for each team. The Gryphons received yet another solid effort in net from
Tanner Wickware, who turned away 30 of the 33 shots sent his way in the game. The Patriotes had four different goal scorers on the night, while on the Guelph side,
Nathan Allensen and
Jacob Winterton picked up assists on the lone Gryphon goal on the night, with DeGurse scoring his 4th of the season.
It will be a quick turnaround for the Gryphons (9-12-0) who will once again be at home on Saturday (January 13) as they welcome the Waterloo Warriors (3-15-1). Puck drop on Saturday night between the Gryphons and Warriors is set for 5:30pm, as part of the Gryphons annual "Hockeyday in Gryphonville" alumni day. Tickets are available at gryphons.ca/tickets with the game also broadcast live online at oua.tv. The Gryphons have seven games remaining in their 28-game regular season schedule, and currently sit in 6th-place in the 10-team OUA West Division, just one-point behind the 5th-place Lakehead Thunderwolves, who are scheduled to visit Guelph for a pair of games next week on Jan. 18 (The Frosty Mug) and Jan. 19.
