U15A Guelph Gryphons Crowned Tri-County Champions, News, A, 2022-2023, U15 (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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Mar 26, 2023 | Doug Reddick | 472 views
U15A Guelph Gryphons Crowned Tri-County Champions
The U15A Guelph Gryphons crowned Tri-County Champions after tenacious 4 - 2 victory over the Centre Wellington Fusion!

The Stage: U15A Tri-County Championship Game

The Venue: The Fergus Sportsplex

The Date: March 23, 2023

The Match-up:

Centre Wellington Fusion A (1st place with 28-2-2 regular season, 7-0 playoffs)

Vs

Guelph Gryphons A (2nd place with 25-4-3 regular season, 7-0 playoffs)

The Game:

With electricity in the air, the stands full and the anticipation of an exciting, physical and fast game to commence, the U15A Guelph Gryphons took to the ice to face their toughest opponent of the season – again.  Having tangled 4 times since an early season exhibition game in September, the teams were well aware of one another, and ready for battle.

Wearing their out-of-town black uniforms, the Gryphons showed confidence early and outshot CW 13-5 in the opening period.  However, early game jitters and excitement resulted in penalties on both sides with CW capitalizing with the first goal of the game with (officially) 0:01 left on the clock.  Despite best efforts to convince the officials that the goal occurred after the period expired, there was not enough evidence to overturn the call.  1-0 CW.

Clearly disappointed with the verdict, the Gryphons would use this as motivation to up the effort in the second period. Despite needing to fight off a few early period penalties, the Gryphons rebounded in the second half of the frame with relentless pressure in the offensive zone, persistent physical play at both ends of the ice and sound goaltending.  Midway through the 2nd period, the Gryphons would notch a pair of goals about 1 minute apart.  This gave the momentum to the visiting Gryphons as they outshot CW 9-6 in the period and continued to control much of the play.

During the second period flood, the Guelph Gryphons revisited the gameplan and ensured consensus on the strategy for the final 15:00.

Early in the third, the Gryphons would add to the lead on a tip from a point shot that would squeak past the CW goaltender.  Two and a half minutes later, the Gryphons would go up 4-1 with a goal on the powerplay. 

With 10 minutes left in the game, CW would up the intensity, double shift a half dozen players and did their best to fight back.  Though adding one goal to their total, CW was not able to overcome the resiliency, speed and effort of this Guelph Gryphons team. 

As the clock wound down and the reality of the win set in, the Gryphons held their composure, continued to press and did not allow CW to get back in the game.

With the final buzzer and the Championship solidified, the Gryphons were finally able to celebrate the moment with the banner in hand, and medals draped.

Despite the satisfaction and thrill of the victory, it was well understood that this was yet a step along the path to the next goal – OMHAs winning the Red Hats!   

Congratulations team! You all played a great game, executed the gameplan and proved that you can beat a tough Fusion team.  Well-done and well-deserved!

Let’s Go Gryphs!

Coach Doug

 
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