2023-2024 U16 - BB | Mar 20, 2024 | Bruce Schlitt | 733 views
U16 BB Capture Tri County Championship With Dramatic OT Victory
The Guelph U16 BB Gryphons are Tri County Champions after a thrilling 4-3 overtime victory over the Woolwich Wildcats on Wednesday evening in St. Jacobs.
The Gryphons struck first as 3:24 into the contest Braeden Bunnaman spotted Sam MacIntyre alone off to the side of the net and fired it cross ice from the hash marks and MacIntyre banged it home to give Guelph an early 1-0 lead. The goal stood as the only tally of the first period.
Guelph increased its lead 28 seconds into the second period as Harrison Redford drove home a blast from the top of the circles. Bunnaman and Ben Ivey drew assists on the play. Then two minutes later while on the powerplay, Peter Schlitt worked the puck low to Milan Wilson who found Peyton Smith cross crease and Smith snapped it home to increase the Gryphon lead to 3-0. The Gryphons appeared to be rolling but penalty trouble in the latter half of the second period caught up to them as Woolwich pounded home two powerplay markers to close the gap to 3-2 at the second intermission.
The intensity ramped up in the third period and Woolwich hemmed Guelph in their zone and tied the score with 7:37 remaining. Guelph had numerous chances to win the game in the remaining minutes of the third but were turned away time and again by the Woolwich goalie. The score remained tied as the buzzer sounded at the end of the third period and the teams headed for overtime.
After killing an early penalty in overtime, Guelph controlled the play and had numerous scoring chances but were unable to cash in. With just over a minute to play in overtime, Sam MacIntyre walked in and rang a drive off the crossbar. The clock wound down and it appeared the game was destined to be decided by a shootout when with just 8 seconds remaining, Peyton Smith forced a turnover at the Guelph blueline and galloped down the ice, crossed the Woolwich blueline and unleashed a rocket to the top corner that bulged the twine with just .6 seconds showing on the clock, giving Guelph the victory and the championship.
Coley The Goalie McQueen picked up the victory in the Guelph nets with a strong performance.
The Gryphons will now take the next two weeks to prepare for the OMHA Championships to be held in Whitby April 5th to 7th. Go Gryphs!