Men’s hockey makes history as OUA Champions
It had been 18 years since the Guelph Gryphons men’s hockey team last captured the Ontario University Athletics championship.
That all changed on March 7.
A sold out crowd of 1,300 fans were in attendance at the Gryphon Centre to witness the Gryphons put forth a complete, dominating 60-minute performance to down the L’Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières (UQTR) Patriotes 4-0 to emerge as the winners in the 104th Queen’s Cup.
The Guelph Gryphons men’s hockey team raised the Queen’s Cup as the Ontario University Athletics (OUA) Champions on March 7 for the first time since 1997.
Getting the crowd into the game early, the Gryphons’ leading point-getter Nick Huard potted the opening goal on the first shot of the contest – the eventual game-winner – just 56 seconds into the match-up. With the quick 1-0 lead, Guelph never looked back.
Focused and evidently determined to conclude the night as champions, the Gryphons held control of almost every aspect of the game – everything but the Patriotes goaltender Francis Desrosiers, who was easily the best player for the UQTR. Desrosiers, who was later relieved after the fourth and final goal, remained busy throughout the game, facing a total of 27 shots in just over 50 minutes of play.
The middle frame prompted another early period goal for the Gryphons as Scott Simmonds found the back of the net just 40 seconds in. Now up 2-0, Guelph would be faced with a desperate Patriotes squad attempting to claw back into the contest. The offense wasn’t the only thing nearing perfect play for the Gryphons, however, as the defence responded strong to keep the UQTR off the scoreboard.
With less than two minutes remaining in the second period, the Gryphons would be tested with some adversity in the shape of a double minor for high-sticking given to Michael Hasson – the game’s first penalty.
The penalty kill unit would be given a lucky break, having the double minor split by the second intermission. Nevertheless, the Gryphons successfully killed off the four-minute disadvantage and looked to be headed full force towards grabbing the OUA title as the final period continued.
Extending the lead would be Simmonds with his second of the night as the first-year forward fired one home to make it a 3-0 game just past the halfway point of the period.
Nine seconds later, in a fitting touch, Huard would join the two-goal club as the Gryphons veteran put one through Desrosiers five-hole to solidify the 4-0 victory.
With just over nine minutes remaining in the OUA final, all eyes were on the clock as first-year netminder Andrew D’Agostini went to work. The Scarborough, Ontario native came up with a flurry of big saves through the final minutes, including an impressively quick glove-save and a solid pad-stop as UQTR was pushing for anything.
D’Agostini would be perfect on the night, stopping all 18 shots for the shutout performance en route to the OUA Championship. It would be the first time a goaltender recorded a shutout against the UQTR throughout the entire 2014-15 campaign, and postseason.
The Gryphons went on to celebrate the program’s eighth provincial title with the classic flurry of sticks, helmets, and gloves scattered.
D’Agostini, already named to the OUA West All-Rookie team, would earn the Player of the Game, while Huard was given Most Valuable Player honours for his remarkable performance throughout the 2015 OUA Playoffs. Huard concluded the postseason with seven goals through nine games played.
With the OUA title in hand, the Gryphons now look to Nationals – the Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) Championship in Halifax running from March 12 to 15.
The third-ranked Gryphons will take on the sixth-ranked Calgary Dinos to begin the tournament on March 12.