GUELPH, Ont. – The Guelph Gryphon men's hockey team rallied in the third period Saturday night in their regular season opener but fell short in a 5-2 loss to the Ottawa Gee Gees at the Gryphon Centre.
Cody St. Jacques (Iroquois Falls, Ont.) was in net for the Gryphons and made 26 saves on 31 shots in the loss. While Gee Gees goaltender Russel Abbott was in net, making 27 saves on 29 shots for the win.
Ottawa took the early lead with a goal from Kyle Ireland at 4:33 of the first period. Gee Gees forward Luc Olivier Blain and left wing Matthieu Methot were credited the assists. Gryphon captain Kris Belan (Florence, Ont.) scored his first of the season and tied up the game at 16:31 with fellow veterans Zach Lillie (Bracebridge, Ont.) and Ed Gale (Keswick, Ont.) credited the assists. The first period ended tied at one-all and the Gee-Gees outshot the Gryphons 13-8 in the period.
The Gee Gees came out strong in the second period scoring a pair of early goals and shutting out the Gryphons. Ottawa's first goal came as the puck deflected off a Gryphon player in front of the Gryphon goalie and Ottawa's Dominque Jalbert fired the rebound right past Loverock's left shoulder. The Gee Gees then earned a short-handed goal by Matt White at 9:51 to grab a 3-1 lead. Ottawa outshot the Gryphons in this period as well 12-8.
In the third period the Gryphons rallied to get back into the game and scored on the power play by Andrew Merrett set up by J.T. MacDonald (Niagara Falls, Ont.) and Justin Gvora at the 10:27 minute mark. The Gryphon celebrations ended shortly thereafter when the Gee Gees scored two more powerplay goals fromAustin Krahenbil and Alexandre Touchette to close out the game. Despite the result the Gryphons faught hard in the period and outshot the Gee Gees in the third 13-6.
Overall the Gryphons were 2/6 on the powerplay while Ottawa was 3/7. The Gee Gees outshot Guelph 31-29 on the evening.
The Gryphons will look to turn things around tomorrow night when they host the UQTR Patriotes at 7:30 p.m.
BOX SCORE:
Ottawa 1 2 2 - 5
Guelph 1 0 1 - 2
1st Period-1, Ottawa, Ireland 2 (Blain, Methot), 4:33 (PP). 2, Guelph, Belan 1 (Lillie, Gale), 16:31 (PP). Penalties-served by McInerney Guel (too many men), 0:53; Krahenbil Ott (tripping), 1:15; Lillie Guel (tripping), 3:50; Belan Guel (cross checking), 10:36; Methot Ott (tripping), 16:17; Chamberland Ott (roughing), 19:52; Merrett Guel (roughing), 19:52.
2nd Period-3, Ottawa, Jalbert 1 (Methot, Blain), 1:40. 4, Ottawa, White 1 (Donovan, Miller), 9:51. Penalties-Krahenbil Ott (interference), 3:55; Jalbert Ott (roughing), 6:25; Belan Guel (roughing), 6:25; Leduc Ott (roughing), 6:35; Lillie Guel (roughing), 6:35; Lillie Guel (interference), 13:49.
3rd Period-5, Guelph, Merrett 1 (Macdonald, Gvora), 10:27 (PP). 6, Ottawa, Krahenbil 1 (Touchette, Moore), 11:56 (PP). 7, Ottawa, Touchette 1 (Moore, Leduc), 16:44 (PP). Penalties-Leduc Ott (roughing), 6:35; Chamberland Ott (holding), 8:34; Belan Guel (unsportsmanlike cnd.), 11:45; Merrett Guel (roughing), 12:19; Belan Guel (checking to the head, 10-minute misconduct), 16:01; Baubriau Ott (holding), 18:41.
Shots on Goal
Ottawa 13-12-6-31
Guelph 8-8-13-29.
Power Play Opportunities: Ottawa 3 / 7; Guelph 2 / 6.
Goalies
Ottawa, Abbott 1-1-0 (29 shots-27 saves)
Guelph, St. Jacques 0-1-0 (31 shots-26 saves).
Gryphon Men's Hockey vs. Ottawa 2011 Gallery
