Mar 10, 2016 | Bruce Schlitt | 808 views
Novice AA Punch Ticket To League Finals
Despite losing 5-4 to the Oakville Rangers on Thursday night, the Novice AA Gryphons are off to the Tri County finals based upon their 5-1 record in round robin action. The Gryphons clinched their spot in the finals Tuesday night when Flamborough handed Oakville their second loss of the round robin.
On Thursday, the Gryphons slept walked through the first period. After 10 minutes of play, the score stood 4-0 Oakville and Guelph had yet to register a shot on net.
13 seconds into the second period, the Gryphons got on the board. Caysen Craig threw the puck in front from the corner and it bounced off the goalie's skate and into the net to give Guelph their opening goal. Trenton Harris and Oscar Johnson assisted on the play.
With under two minutes to go in the second, Koen Smith cut the Oakville lead in half as he wristed the puck into the top corner from the top of the circles. Zac Conroy and Adam Smith drew assists on the play. Just before the end of the period Oscar Johnson cut the lead to one goal as he banged in a rebound off a Trenton Harris shot. The score stood 4-3 after two periods of play.
Guelph came all the way back to tie the score 2:27 into the third period as Tanner Bothwell banged home a rebound off a scramble in front. Koen Smith and Nathan Briggs drew assists on the play.
However, the comeback was spoiled when Oakville scored the game winner just over a minute later. Final score was 5-4 in favour off the visiting Rangers.
The Gryphons will now square off against the Burlington Eagles in the Tri County League Final. During the season, Guelph registered one win and two losses against the Burlington squad. No dates for the final series had been set at press time.