MHKY | Vees Lose in OT, Steal a Point From Gryphons
November 26, 2016
On Saturday afternoon, the Voyageurs' men's hockey team lost a nail-biter in overtime to the Guelph Gryphons, 4-3.
The first period was relatively uneventful as neither team found the back of the net, despite the Voyageurs generating the majority of the chances outshooting Guelph 11-9.
The Voyageurs got out to an early lead in the second period, when Brad MacDonald was sent in on a partial breakaway just 47 seconds in, and blasted a slapshot over the glove hand of Gryphon goalie Keith Hamilton. Nicolas Thommen and Graham Yeo assisted on MacDonald's goal. The Vees struck again when Andrew Tessier quickly put away a rebound at 7:47 of the first period, after great work in the corners by Brent Pedersen and Darcy Haines who picked up assits on Tessier's goal.
The Gryphons were quick to respond, however, as Robert Lepine picked up a rebound at the goalmouth and was able to put it by the sprawled out Charlie Millen to cut the lead in half at 9:53. Nearing the end of the second frame, Lepine redirected his second goal of the afternoon passed Millen to tie the game up for the Gryphons. The second period ended with both teams tied at two.
The Gryphons were then first to strike late in the third period when Peter Soligo found himself alone in tight on Millen and was able to slide the puck through his legs to take a late 3-2 lead. Down, but not out, the Voyageurs were successful on a last ditch effort to tie the game. Dylan Fitze driving hard to the net pounced on a loose puck in the slot to tie the game at 18:35. Graham Yeo gathered his second assist of the game on Fitze's goal, while Chris Smith picked up his first. Fitze's goal would send the two teams into overtime.
The Gryphons needed just over two minutes in overtime to seal the deal. Josh McFadden found himself with some space in the high slot and was able to beat Millen over the shoulder through a partial screen.
Despite the loss, the Vees still occupy the seventh seed in the Eastern conference. The Voyageurs have one more game left, on Friday, December 2nd, when they travel to Queen's for one last battle before the exam break.