Mar 07, 2020 | Bruce Schlitt | 496 views
Gryphon Peewee AA's Tie For First in Tri County; Face Milton in Tie Breaker on Sunday
The Guelph Gryphon Peewee AA's recorded two big wins this week to close out their Tri County Round Robin with a 5-1 record. This placed the Gryphs in a three way tie with the Glancaster Avalanche and the Milton Winterhawks, forcing to sudden death elimination games to be played over the next few days.
On Thursday March 6 the Gryphons (3-1) hosted the Glancaster Bombers (5-0) with their season on the line. Anything less than a victory would eliminate the Gryphons from playoff contention.
After an eight day layoff, the Gryphons came out rusty in the first period and quickly fell behind 2-0.
In the second, Oscar Johnson put some wind into the Gryphons sails when he entered the Bombers zone and uncorked a slapshot that found the top corner just 4:37 into the second period. Ryder Burns drew an assist on the play. Just 1:27 later, Tanner Bothwell found the back of the net on a set up from Matthew Stam and the game was tied. The Bombers came back and retook the lead shortly after but with 2:23 left in the period, Oscar Johnson found himself alone in front and snapped a shot past the Bombers netminder to even the score once again. Ryder Burns and Evan VanEykeren drew the assists. With less than a minute left in the period while shorthanded, speedy Mathew Stam raced down the ice and split the D for a shot on goal. The shot was stopped but Tanner Bothwell pounced on the rebound and slammed it into the back of the net to give Guelph its first lead of the game heading into the second intermission.
Bothwell completed his hat trick 5:02 into the third to give Guelph a 5-3 lead. Nathan Boyle set up the play to earn the assist. But Glancaster cut the lead in just 1:34 later to set up an exciting finish. Both teams traded chances back and forth in relentless end to end action. With the clock winding down and the Bomber goalie pulled, the Gryphs hit two posts with the net empty and Glancaster headed back down the ice for one last rush as time ticked down. Due to a malfunctioning buzzer, Glancaster thought they had scored the game tying goal as time expired and flooded the ice in celebration. After a brief huddle the officials reversed their initial call on the ice as they determined that time had expired several seconds before the puck entered the net. This set off a Guelph celebration as they realized that with their 5-4 victory, their season was still alive.
The Guelph victory on Thursday set up another must win on Saturday as the Gryphons traveled to the Harry Howell Arena to battle the Flamborough-Dundas Sabres. Guelph was all business right from the start as they lit the red light just 22 seconds into the contest. Tyler Chadwick cut to the net off the boards and directed a shot on goal. After a scramble in front, Zach McKnight poked home the rebound to give the Gryphons a 1-0 lead. That score would remain after one period of play.
Guelph broke the game open with three goals in the second period. First off at 3:16 into the period, Zach McKnight fed a beautiful pass back to defensemen Zac Conroy who buried a quick wrister for a 2-0 lead. Then on a 5-3 powerplay, Kyle Assmann worked the puck down the wall to Tyler Chadwick. Chadwick drove the slot and snapped a wrister under the bar for a 3-0 lead. Then with a minute remaining, Tanner Bothwell took a neutral ice chip from Matthew Stam and walked to the top of the circles and uncorked a wrister that the Sabres goalie got a piece off but was unable to prevent from bulging the twine. The score stood 4-0 Guelph after two periods.
6 minutes into the third, Olan Norton came from behind the net and fed a gorgeous pass to Tyler Chadwick in the slot and Chaddy one timed it into the back of the net for his second of the night. Zach McKnight also assisted on the play. McKnight then added his second of the night moments later to increase the Guelph lead. Guelph then closed out the scoring while short handed as Olan Norton found mesh with his backhander in front off a Zach McKnight rebound. the McKnight-Norton-Chadwick trio were a constant threat in the offensive zone the entire night. Flamborough scored late in the third to break the goose egg to make the final 7-1.
With the victory, Guelph finished Tri County Round Robin with a 5-1 record, tying them with Glancaster and Milton. Based on GF% percentage, Guelph has been seeded 2nd for the Round Robin elimination games and will host Milton on Sunday March 8 at the West End Rec Centre. Puck drop is scheduled for 6:30 pm and good seats are still available.