Men’s hockey: Guelph 4-2 Laurier
The Gryphons men’s hockey team hosted their annual “Do it for Daron” game to bring light to mental health awareness for children. Pregame ceremonies included TSN’s Michael Landsberg doing the puck drop and honouring the team’s departing seniors – James Merrett, Kenneth Peroff, Philip Teri, John Collins, and Cale Jefferies.
The Gryphons had an onslaught of shots in the first period, outshooting the Golden Hawks 16-6, but found it difficult to beat Laurier’s goaltender, Vinny Merante.
Teal Burns opened up the scoring on a shorthanded goal in a second period that saw Guelph get outshot 12-5. Leonard Fabbri was another Gryphon that took advantage of the little pressure Guelph had on net in the second, burying a goal to help the Gryphons go up two.
Guelph’s third goal came on the power play and was courtesy of Nicholas Trecapelli. This proved important, as Laurier strung together two quick goals to come within one of Guelph, but once the Golden Hawk’s goalie was pulled with a minute left of regulation, Guelph capitalized with their fourth and final goal of the game.
Women’s hockey: Finish tops in OUA, 3rd in Canada
In what turned out to be a season for the record books, the Gryphons women’s hockey team went 21-3 on the season as back-to-back wins, 3-0 versus York and 4-2 versus UOIT, leads the top-seeded Guelph side into the playoffs.
Guelph’s star-studded team features the likes of Christine Grant, second in the OUA in points with 34, Jessica Pinkerton, first in the OUA with 16 goals, and goalie Stephanie Nehring, first in wins (19) and goals against average (1.15) in the OUA.
The playoffs begins at home versus the Waterloo Warriors today, Feb. 13, at 7:30 p.m., and if necessary, the Gryphons will return home for the deciding third game of the series on the 16 at 2 p.m.
Women’s volleyball: Tops in OUA West
The streak of impressive feats for women’s athletics here at the U of G continued this weekend as the volleyball team solidified their first place spot in a win over Windsor in straight sets, 25-18, 25-24 and 25-18.
Guelph’s dominating performances continued as they played host to Western on Senior’s night, winning 3-1 over the lowly Mustangs, who finish 6-13 on the year.
The women will be hosting the Lakehead Thunderwolves in the quarter-finals of the OUA. In two previous meetings versus the Thunderwolves, Guelph won handily 3-1 and 3-1. Game one’s tip-off is set for Feb. 15 at 6 p.m. in the W.F. Mitchell Athletic Centre.
Swimming: Golden Moments
Both the men’s and women’s Gryphons athletes of the Week belonged to the swimmers this time around, as Guelph wrapped-up an impressive showing at the OUA Championships this past weekend at Brock University.
Fourth-year Psychology student, Alisha Harricharan obtained gold in the 100m and 50m butterfly, setting OUA record times of 59.53 and 26.86. Harricharan also won gold in the 200m butterfly and participated in the 4 x 100m freestyle relay, which earned a bronze medal for the Gryphons.
Guelph’s Evan Moerkerke, tasted all the colours of the podium’s rainbow, bringing home gold in the 100m freestyle, silver in the 50m freestyle, and bronze in the 50m breaststroke. Moerkerke, the defending OUA rookie of the year, has his next challenge at the CIS Championships starting on Feb. 22, and looking to earn a spot on the senior National Team in April.