2023-2024 BB | Mar 16, 2024 | Bruce Schlitt | 551 views
U16 BB Qualify For OMHA's; Advance To Tri County Final
The Guelph U16 BB Gryphons have punched their ticket to the OMHA Championships and advanced to the Tri County Finals following a hard earned 6-2 victory over the Milton Winterhawks on Saturday evening.
In a fast paced, physical game, the Gryphons got on the board at the 10:00 mark of the first period as Peyton Smith ripped home a shot off a setup from Caleb Davison. Then with 56 seconds left in the period while on a power play, Peter Schlitt worked the puck down to Braeden Bunnaman who fed Sam MacIntyre for a one-timer to give Guelph a 2-0 lead. Just 21 seconds later, the MacIntyre / Bunnaman duo struck again and the Gryphons took a 3-0 lead into the first intermission.
Guelph added to their lead 3:02 into the middle frame as penalty killer Josh Eikelboom blocked a shot in the Guelph zone and raced down the ice on a breakaway and made a nifty deke to slide the puck home and give Guelph a 4-0 lead. However Milton refused to quit and responded with two tallies in the latter stages of the period to cut the Guelph lead in half to 4-2 at the second intermission.
Guelph added some insurance with 5:35 left when Ridge Thibodeau pounced on a rebound in front of the Milton net and ripped it home to make the score 5-2. Oliver Fletcher and Cian Duffy drew assists on the play. Then with 1:51 remaining, Sam MacIntyre completed his hat trick to close out the scoring. Thibodeau drew an assist on the play.
Marshall Cline picked up the win in a very strong performance in the Guelph nets.
The Gryphons will now face the Woolwich Wildcats in the Tri County Final before heading to Whitby April 5th - 7th. Game 1 is this Tuesday night at WERC.