The Minor Peewee AE
Gryphons traveled to Orangeville on Friday for their season opener,
looking to repeat as regular season champs of the Tri-County league.
After overcoming a sluggish start and penalty troubles, the gritty
Gryphon squad squeaked out a 5-4 victory over the hard working Flyers.
After the Flyers
opened the scoring just 24 seconds into the contest, the Gryphons tied
it up 3 minutes later. Kenny Beynon capitalized on a scramble in front
of the net by jamming home a loose puck, with Milan Wilson and Jackson
Byard drawing assists. The Gryphons took their first lead of the game
with 1:33 left in the first period. An aggressive
forecheck by Kenny Bennon created a turnover deep in the Flyer zone,
when the puck squirted loose, Milan Wilson jumped on the attack,
stepping around one defender and ripping a shot over the goalie's
outstretched glove into the top corner of the net.
The second
period was full of aggressive hockey with both teams trading scoring
chances and penalties. However the only goal of the period came from the
the Flyers who tied up the contest with 1:56 left in the frame.
The
third period saw the two teams collect a combined 5 goals and 5
penalties in a back and forth affair. The Flyers retook the lead early
scoring only 26 seconds into the period while on the power-play. Two
minutes later, while on a power-play of their own, centre Peyton Smith
stripped the puck from a Flyer forward in the neutral zone, streaked
past both Flyer defenders, and with a quick head fake had the opposition
goalie sprawling, and then slid the puck into the empty net. One minute
later, Jackson Byard put the Gryphons back on top after burying a
centering pass from behind the Flyer net that was the result of
aggressive forechecking from his line mates, Kenny Beynon drew the
assist.
However,
the Flyers refused to give in and with 8 minutes left in the game,
while on the power-play again, tied the game at 4. That would be their
last of the game. With four minutes left in the game, Owen McNamee
created a turnover in the Gryphon end, showing his speed, raced passed
the Flyer defence and ripped a wrist-shot over the glove of the Flyer
goalie.
The Gryphons return to the ice for their home opener on Sunday night against Flamborough-Dundas.
*note: all scores are taken directly from the official time sheet.