After defeating UOIT in the first round, Guelph ousted by Queen’s

You couldn’t script a better beginning to the playoffs than what the Gryphons experienced on Feb. 13 when they hosted the UOIT Ridgebacks at the Gryphon Centre.

Jessica Pinkerton gave Guelph the lead at 5:26 into the first period and the Gryphons never looked back. Amanda Parkins netted one in the second, and Averi Nooren and Kaitlyn Mora each scored in the third period. Goaltender Stephanie Nehring made 13 saves for the shutout.

The Gryphons travelled to Oshawa on Feb. 15 for the second and final game of the series.

After going up 1-0 on the Gryphons, the ridgebacks capitalized on a powerplay opportunity, as Jaclyn Gibson fired a shot past Nehring at 17:29 in the first period to give UOIT an early 2-0 lead.

Amanda Parkins was determined to change the course of the game, and netted an early goal just 3:27 into the second period. Momentum shifted late in the second when a malicious kneeing penalty was committed by Victoria MacKenzie of the Ridgebacks. The hit led to Leigh Shilton of the Gryphons leaving with a knee injury shortly after. MacKenzie was given a five-minute major penalty and a game misconduct for her role in the incident.

Guelph’s Kaitlyn Mora notched the game-tying goal at 1:47 in the third period, forcing overtime.

One overtime period wasn’t enough, and in the second overtime period Pinkerton netted the game-winner with assists awarded to Amanda Parkins and Christine Grant. The win advanced the Gryphons into the OUA Semifinal.

Without the assistance of Leigh Shilton, the Gryphons hosted the first game of the semifinal series against Queen’s on Feb. 20, a team that finished just two points behind the Gryphons in regular season play.

Queen’s jumped out to an early 2-0 lead which Guelph would even up with just over six minutes remaining in the third period. The Gaels scored with six minutes and three minutes remaining in the contest to capture the first game of the playoff series.

The series travelled to Kingston on Feb. 22, and Queen’s took full advantage of the home ice advantage. Queen’s outshot the Gryphons 20-5 in the first period and the Gryphons escaped down only a goal at the period’s end. The second period witnessed Christine Grant corral a rebound, tying the game at one apiece.

An early third period goal by the Gaels put Guelph in the difficult position of trying to keep their season alive. A late powerplay goal by the Gaels put the game out of reach for the Gryphons, and the final score was 3-1. The Gryphons were outshot by the Gaels 39-22 in the final game of their incredible season.

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