Excitement was present on and off the ice in the Sleeman Centre on Jan. 20 as the Guelph Gryphons men’s hockey team defeated the Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks by a score of 5-3.

This game was the only one the men’s hockey team played in the Sleeman Centre this season and was marketed as the fourth annual Frosty Mug.  The announced attendance was 1,507, a significant increase over the approximately 1,000 fans who attended in 2011.

Gryphons head coach Shawn Camp acknowledged that such an enthusiastic crowd at the Frosty Mug allows home teams to “feed off that when they need a little pick-up.”

Just over three minutes into this season’s game the Golden Hawks got on the scoreboard with a goal scored by team point leader Mitchell Good. Laurier held onto their 1-0 lead throughout the rest of the period, killing three penalties until the first intermission.

During the second period the Gryphons were finally able to capitalize on a power play. The tying goal was provided by centre Justin Gvora just before the nine minute mark. At that time the Hawks were trying to readjust from a two-man to a one-man disadvantage.

Less than two minutes later, Laurier regained the lead after rookie right-winger Mike Mascioli got a shot past Guelph goaltender Cody St. Jacques, who made 21 saves that night.

“Anytime that Laurier scored we responded right after with a goal of our own and that was really critical because we grabbed the momentum back,” emphasized Camp.

Indeed, less than 30 seconds after Laurier’s go-ahead goal, Gryphon centre Michael Kusy scored the equalizer on a pass by Ken Peroff with an additional assist by Matthew Lyall. Laurier regained the lead on a power play, the only one of five they were able to take advantage of, through forward Tyler Slothers’s goal soon after.

“Overall this season, our penalty kill has been very good,” said Camp, pointing out that the Gryphon penalty-killing unit largely blocked passing and shooting lanes for the Hawks.

four-on-four hockey was played late in the second period. Guelph’s penalty ended prior to Laurier’s easing the way for Gvora to score the tying goal. Peroff, recently released out of the penalty box, gained an assist, as did team point leader J.T. MacDonald. Laurier appeared to contest the legitimacy of that goal, possibly because a whistle may have blown before the puck crossed the goal line. Their on-ice captain talked to a referee, but to no avail.

Three minutes into the third period Gryphon centre Phil Teri received left winger Cale Jefferies’ pass. Teri glided beside the crease and put the puck in the top corner of the net beating Hawks goaltender Ryan Daniels and giving Guelph a 4-3 lead.

Also in the third period, Laurier defenseman Frank Riddle strongly checked Gvora nearly prompting a fight between the two. If Gvora fought, he would have been ejected from the game and subject to a one-game suspension –an action which would have made it impossible for him to achieve a hat-trick, which was completed on an empty net in the game’s final minute.

“[Gvora] is playing so well for us and he’s been scoring a lot of goals so he’s a bit of a target,” said Camp.

“Our guys are very disciplined about turning the other cheek when it comes to that sort of thing. They don’t need to be fighting to show that they’re tough,” added Camp, in regards to fighting.

Laurier beat Windsor 4-2 the following night but still remain three points behind Guelph in the west division, who will attempt to extend their two-game win streak on Jan. 26 when they visit York.

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