U18 AAA Gryphons come home 4th from OHFs!, News, AAA, 2022-2023, U18 (Guelph Minor Hockey Association)

This Team is part of the 2022-2023 season, which is not set as the current season.
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Apr 13, 2022 | Shawn Patterson | 803 views
U18 AAA Gryphons come home 4th from OHFs!
It was a long week vs some very good teams and when the final buzzer went off the Guelph U18 AAA Gryphons finished 4th in Ontario! 

Game 1 was vs the #2 ranked Mississauga Reps who came out flying. The Gryphons went down 2-0 in the 1st and just couldn't find the back of the net until the 3rd, 34 secs in. The Gryphons seemed to be turning the game in their favour but just couldn't catch any breaks or beat the Reps goalie. The Gryphons would eventually go down 4-1 to open the OHFs. Game MVP was Max Oldacre.
Game 2 was vs the Alliance winner, Huron-Perth Lakers. The Gryphons would take all game 1 frustrations out on the Lakers, dominating most of the play, and end up winning 6-2. Game MVP was Connor Gentes.
Game 3 vs the #4 ranked Nepean Raiders. They've got multiple draft picks, including the current 8th overall ranked U16 in this years OHL priority draft, Top Forward/Defenceman/Scorer of the tournament, and they came to play. Scoring early and often. The Gryphons did all they could to stop the bleeding but ended up taking the lose, 10-2. Game MVP was Will Elliott. 
Game 4 vs the GTHL Champions and host, Toronto Young Nationals. The Nats scored late in the 1st to take the lead. But in the 2nd the Gryphons piled on the pressure and tied it up. Heading into the 3rd the action was back and forth, however, the Nats would get a bounce 1:04 into the period and go up 2-1. Unfortunately, the Nats would come back down a few mins later and pop one home. The Gryphs didn't stop and scored late but would end up losing 4-2. Game MVP was Roenick Jakielaszek.
Game 5 vs Sault Jr Greyhounds, winners of the NOHA, was a must-win for both teams. Backs against the wall the Gryphons came to play, scoring early in the 1st. The Soo would score in the 2nd to tie it up only for the Gryphs to take the lead late. Unfortunately, 1:37 later the Greyhounds would tie it up again. Heading into the 3rd, 2-2, the Gryphs did what they did all season and took over in the 3rd. Scoring 2 goals and taking command of the game and the win 4-2. Thus putting the U18 boys in the semi-finals. Game MVP was Austen Pomerleau.
Semi-Finals vs the top seed Toronto Young Nationals. It didn't look good early as the Nats would score 1:14 into the game. The action was back and forth but the Nats would take the lead into the 2nd. The Gryphons came out with a jump and popped one home to tie it up. With momentum heading into the 3rd the Gryphs were hoping for that 3rd period magic. However, it seemed the Nats hoped for it to and there's came true, scoring 20 secs in. They would score again mid-way through and then an empty-netter to send the Gryphs to the Bronze medal game. Thus eliminating the Gryphons from a chance at the Telus Cup (Nationals). Game MVP was Ethan Yantha.
Bronze Medal game vs Nepean Raiders. Pumped up to take 3rd place and redemption vs the Raiders, the Gryphons would score mid way in and then again a few mins later. With 0.02 secs left on the clock the Raiders would score to make it 2-1 heading into the 2nd. The Raiders would come out and score 59 secs in and then again 4 mins later top take the lead 3-2. The Gryphons didn't back down and would pop 2 of their own before the period was over. Early in the 3rd the Gryphons would score to make it 5-3 and looked like 3rd place wrapped up. However, Nepean didn't agree scoring 3 goals in the next 7 mins to regain the lead 6-5 and eventually the Bronze medal. Game MVP was Madden MacDougall.
It was a great, hard fought, week and the U18 AAA Guelph Gryphons should be very proud of themselves! Congratulations on all the success this season.
A special congratulations goes to our captain Callum Snedden for winning the Most Dedicated Award and a $500 ESSO Scholarship. Very well deserved!

Good luck and thank you to all of our graduating 2004s! Callum Snedden, Ryan Tait, Madden MacDougall, Joseph Kosakowski, Andrew Benedetti, Tyler Brezynskie, and Roenick Jakielaszek.