Three unanswered goals in the first period give Gryphons 5-0 win against division rival Laurier
The Sleeman Centre was packed with an announced attendance of 4,715 last Thursday, Jan. 18. Beer lines were stretched, students screamed, and the Gryphons’ shooters were ruthless, scoring three goals in the opening period.
Coach Shawn Camp spoke to the importance of the Frosty Mug to the Gryphon players, noting that the game gives the guys motivation and intensity from the drop of the puck.
“Frosty Mug is always a special event for our guys, a chance to show our brand of hockey to folks in the community. They were excited to go and they got off to a great start. That put us in great shape for the rest of the game,” Coach Camp told The Ontarion.
Second-year goaltender, and Kitchener native, Andrew Masters shared the thrill of defending home ice in front of thousands of friends, fans, and students.
“The atmosphere out there just gets you jacked up. I think everybody was jacked up more than normal, and I think that happens when 5,000 of your best friends are in the stands,” Masters told The Ontarion postgame.
Masters recorded 26 saves in a strong effort against his hometown team, giving him his first shutout of both the season and his Gryphon career.
Even with the symbolic victories, Masters said the only win that counts is the one that shows in the standings.
“It’s first versus second in the OUA west and we want to establish a bit of a cushion going forward,” Masters said. “Obviously the hometown team is something I take into consideration, my parents [went] there, my brother goes there, but more importantly, it’s about the boys tonight,” Masters said.
The win was a timely one. It comes when the race for the top spot in the OUA West Division is heating up. The Golden Hawks and York Lions, both strong squads, sit just four points behind the Gryphons.
“It’s apparent that guys are pretty hungry to continue winning, Laurier was an excellent test tonight, their special teams are outstanding, they have a lot of balance on their lines, and their [defence] moved the puck very well. It was good for our guys to get a jump on them early,” Coach Camp said.
Following their Frosty Mug victory, the Gryphons lost to the Brock Badgers in St. Catharine’s on a second night of a back to back.
The Gryphons now look to their game against U of T in Toronto on Friday, Jan. 26.
Photo by Michael Cimesa