On Oct. 3rd, the Guelph Gryphons women’s hockey team launched the OUA regular season with a victory at home over the defending national champions, the Western Mustangs.
The 3-0 win sets the Gryphons on a promising path for the season. Goaltender Stephanie Nehring came away with her first shutout of the season after making 26 saves. Karli Shell, Kelly Gribbons, and Katherine Bailey scored goals for Guelph.
Western hit the ground running in the first period, capitalizing on a few Guelph plays, but were unable to get past Nehring. Guelph opened the scoring after 11 minutes of play thanks to Shell.
The play picked up in the second period, with scoring opportunities for both teams, but Guelph increased their lead near the end of the period with an unassisted goal by Gribbons. Bailey capitalized on a power play to add a third goal for the Gryphons.
Mustangs goalie Kelly Campbell finished last year ranked second after Nehring in Goals Against Average (1.23). Campbell was also named a CIS First Team All-Canadian after last season. The Gryphons more than held their own in the season opener by scoring on Campbell, as well as shutting out Mustangs’ top scorers Katelyn Gosling and Kendra Broad, both of whom are top-ranked OUA players.
Starting the season with a victory over last year’s national champions is promising for the Gryphons’ season. Head coach Rachel Flanagan describes her team as “a strong character group who we feel will be able to build upon last season’s success.”
In the 2014 season, the Gryphons team worked their way to an 18-3-3 record and earned a fifth-place finish in the country. This season brings back the majority of the team, with a few key departures, but also some promising recruits.
Gryphons’ goalie Nehring returns after a strong 2014 season, leading the OUA with five shutouts and a 1.18 Goals Against Average. This year will be Nehring’s fifth and final year with the Gryphons, but the future looks bright with second-year goalie Valerie Lamenta following in her predecessor’s talented footsteps.
Forwards and co-captains Jessica Pinkerton and Leigh Shilton return from last year’s team but Captain Katie Mora and defender Gina Murray have moved on. The incoming Gryphons show a lot of promise, including Stony Creek Sabres teammates Claire Merrick, Laura Crowdis, and Mallory Young. Shell and Ashlee Lawrence round out the forward line, giving the Gryphons a great balance of fresh players and experienced talent.
The last time the Guelph Gryphons won the OUA Championships in Women’s Hockey was the 1997-98 season, but with the 2015 season off to a successful start, this team could bring the Gryphons to the top of the OUA come February.
The Gryphons face off against the Ryerson Rams next, hosting their second home game on Oct. 9 at 7:30 p.m. at the Gryphon Centre.