‘Frosty Mug’ victory followed up with a deflating loss

Written by Justin Dunk

Photo by Rashaad Bhamjee

An emotionally charged Guelph men’s hockey team showed up 10 minutes into the third annual Frosty Mug game at the Sleeman Centre in downtown Guelph.

“We’ve been prone to slow starts this year. Getting some saves early is key and just let the boys do their thing,” said starting Gryphon goalie, Scott VanBommel.

VanBommel stopped 16 shots in the first frame to keep his team in the contest.

Guelph woke up midway through the first period after a few big body checks were dished out.

“I think we definitely let our physical presence be felt,” said VanBommel. “We used the emotion of the fans to our advantage and built on that as the game went on.”

Captain, Kris Belan set up the first two Guelph goals, as Andrew Merrett, Ed Gale and Thoms Kiriakou all found the back of the net. The Gryphons held on for a 3-2 upset win, over the number two seed in the OUA West, Laurier Golden Hawks.

There were over 1000 Gryphon faithful in attendance and the team was spurred on by the intensity if the crowd.

“It’s definitely a game that we can use kind of as a way we need to approach other games,” said VanBommel, who recorded his first win of the year.

One night later, Saturday Jan. 22, Guelph dropped a 3-1 decision on the road against the York Lions, the current cellar dwellers in the OUA West division.

“I don’t know if there is any one thing we could pin that on,” said VanBommel. “We came into York and a game that we should of won. It just goes to show the parity in this league.”

A three game suspension was handed down for Belan following his check-to-the-head of a defenseless Laurier player in the Frosty Mug game. Belan sat out against York and will sit for Guelph’s home doubleheader against Lakehead on Jan. 28-29.

“I’m kind of limited [as to] what I can do on the ice,” said Belan of his suspension. “They’re taking more precaution of the hit to the head.”

Guelph had a chance to end York’s playoff hopes with a win, while at the same time securing their own birth in the postseason. Eight teams make the postseason in the OUA West.

“Excuses are excuses, we just didn’t play well against York,” said Belan.

Now the Gryphons will be forced to clinch a playoff spot without two of their best players, Thoms Kiriakou, Tim Priamo and head coach, Shawn Camp, gone for five games to the FISU World Winter games.

“We don’t have an easy schedule when they’re gone. They are two of our better players, they log some big minutes,” said VanBommel. “But we’re confident with everyone in the room. It’s just a matter of us executing our game plan.”

Chris Clancy, the longtime Gryphon assistant coach will step up to take the head coaching duties while Camp is at the FISU games.

“Clancy’s been around the hockey scene for quite a while and he’s got quite a winning track record,” said VanBommel.

Gryphon defencemen, Nathan Martine and forward, Alex Magera are hopeful to return to the lineup against Lakehead, after suffering concussions early in 2011.

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