12 senior athletes thanked for their time as Gryphons
On Feb. 7, 12 Guelph Gryphons, spread across the men’s and women’s hockey and volleyball teams were recognized and honoured for their contributions to their respective sports as they closed out their final regular seasons, with some playing in their last game. We take a look at the 12 graduating senior Gryphons.
Daniel Broussard, Men’s Hockey
A native of Fayetteville, North Carolina, the Gryphons’ captain played four seasons in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) with the Sarnia Sting and the Ottawa 67’s before making the jump into Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS). The start of the 2012-13 season with the Gryphons was the first of three for Broussard, a defenseman that would go on to total for 34 points (one goal, 33 assists) over 81 career games. Broussard closed out his final regular season game with one assist in a 5-4 win over Waterloo.
Mike Charbonneau, Men’s Hockey
Following the success of four seasons in the Ontario Junior Hockey League (OJHL), Charbonneau joined the Guelph Gryphons for the 2012-13 season. The Guelph, Ontario native compiled seven points (one goal, six assists) in 55 games over his three seasons playing in the CIS.
Jordan Mock, Men’s Hockey
The Dartmouth, Nova Scotia native, similar to that of his graduating teammates, began his career with the Gryphons for the 2012-13 season. In 78 games over three seasons, the Guelph forward recorded 32 points (14 goals, 18 assists). In his last regular season game on Feb. 7 against Waterloo, Mock posted a goal in the 5-4 victory.
Kaitlyn Mora, Women’s Hockey (Captain)
Saying farewell to another Gryphons captain, Kaitlyn Mora played in her final regular season game on Feb. 8 – a 3-0 victory over Windsor. In the contest, Mora notched two assists. A native of Guelph, Ontario, the Gryphons forward totaled for 19 points (eight goals, 11 assists) in her final season.
Gina Murray, Women’s Hockey
In her fourth and final season with the Gryphons, Gina Murray was a staple to Guelph’s blue line. In addition, the Lucknow, Ontario native added seven assists through 22 games played for Guelph in the 2014-15 season.
Connor Cressman, Men’s Volleyball
The Waterloo, Ontario native served as a libero to the Gryphons for four seasons beginning in 2011-12. Over 60 career matches, Cressman totaled for 126 kills, 172 digs, and 166.0 points. In his final match against the Queen’s Gaels on Feb. 7 – in what would be the final game for the senior as Queen’s downed the Gryphons 3-1, pushing them out of playoff contention – Cressman had seven digs.
Patrick Strzalkowski, Men’s Volleyball
Left-side and Gryphons’ captain Patrick Strzalkowski closed out his four-season Ontario University Athletics (OUA) career ranked ninth among the league in points with 241.0. Over four seasons with the Gryphons, the St. Catharines, Ontario native posted 387 kills, 262 digs, and a huge 503.5 points in 65 matches and 215 sets. In his final game with the Gryphons on Feb. 7, Strzalkowski had 17 kills and six digs.
Eric Wagner, Men’s Volleyball
A native of Waterloo, Ontario, Eric Wagner become a libero for the Gryphons in the 2011-12 season. In four campaigns with Guelph, Wagner totaled for 367 digs in 58 matches and 174 sets. Wagner finished the 2014-15 season ranked fifth in digs with 143, and fifth in digs-per-set with an average of 2.34.
Marc Wilson, Men’s Volleyball
Concluding a four-season career with the Gryphons, Marc Wilson registered five kills and two digs in his final match versus Queen’s on Feb. 7. The Stratford, Ontario native finished the 2014-15 season third in the OUA with a .386 hitting percentage. The Gryphons’ middle blocker compiled 447 kills, 81 digs, and 631 points in 72 career matches and 256 sets.
Rebecca Breau, Women’s Volleyball
The London, Ontario native only got better from her rookie season in 2011-12 to her concluding campaign of 2014-15. Throughout 64 career matches and 204 sets, Breau had 365 kills, 297 digs, and 455.5 points. In her final game – a 3-2 victory over Queen’s – Breau posted 18 kills, 17 digs, and 22.5 points.
Jennifer Johnstone, Women’s Volleyball
Jennifer Johnstone, a native of North Vancouver, British Columbia, joined the Guelph Gryphons in the 2011-12 season. Over four years with U of G, Johnstone compiled 91 kills, 39 digs, and 170.5 points in 33 matches and 93 sets. Throughout 19 matches in her final season as a Gryphon, the middle blocker finished ranked third in the OUA in block total with 72, and fifth in blocks-per-set with an average of 0.99. On Seniors Night, a 3-2 win over Queen’s, Johnstone posted seven kills, one dig, and nine points.
Katelyn Larson, Women’s Volleyball
The Gryphons’ setter, a native of Calgary, Alberta, finished her fourth and final season in the OUA ranked 15th in assists with 224, and 15th in assists-per-set with an average of 6.05 throughout 14 matches. On Seniors Night on Feb. 7, Larson had one kill and 11 digs. Throughout four seasons and 61 matches, the Gryphon compiled 35 kills, 1232 assists, an average of 7.04 assists-per-set, 319 digs, and 99.5 points.