MHKY | Voyageurs Drop Weekend Road Opener
November 24, 2017
On Saturday night, the Voyageurs men's hockey team was dealt a hefty blow by the Guelph Gryphons, losing 9-5.
The Vees got off to a good start as Brent Pedersen opened the scoring for Laurentian at 3:52 on a play assisted by Xavier Couture and Jordan Chard.
The Vees increased their lead to 2-0 by way of Couture at 14:06 on the powerplay, with assists going to Cray Roberge and Pedersen.
The Gryphons were quick to respond, however, and tied the game before the period expired. First, Marc Stevens scored on the powerplay at 15:38 bringing the score to 2-1.
Minutes later, Michael Stevens scored at 17:20, tying the contest and sending both teams to the first intermission deadlocked at two a piece.
Marc Stevens was quick to tally his second of the game early in the second period when he scored at 1:46, giving the Gryphons a 3-2 lead and their first lead of the game.
The Voyageurs responded immediately though, as Luke McCaw scoreed at 3:52 on a play set up by Roberge and Scott Pedersen, evening the game at 3-3.
The Gryphons were again quick to respond as Scott Simmonds scored just 38 seconds later to retake the lead.
Guelph then increased their lead as Marc Stevens completed the natural hat trick at 16:27 of the second period and thrusting the Gryphons back out to another lead, this time by a score of 5-3.
The third period saw a flurry of action as both teams exchanged a handful of goals in the final 20 minutes.
First, Zach McFadden scored for the Gryphons, doubling the score to 6-3.
The Gryphons continued to find a way to add goals in rapid succession as Todd Winder scored Guelph's seventh goal of the game at 4:56.
Laurentian responded with two quick goals of their own, however, as Blake Forslund scored at 9:20 of the final period to bring the Voyageurs within three goals. Gavin Apperson and Scott Pedersen picked up assists on the play.
Couture would add his second of the game seven minutes later, bringing the score to 7-5 at 16:44 on a play set up by Brent Pedersen yet again.
However, this would be as close as the Voyageurs would get to tying the game as the Gryphons would add two more goals in the final three minutes of play, rounding out the final score of 9-5.
The Voyageurs travel to Brock tomorrow as they will try and overcome Friday night's loss with a win in St. Catharines.
Sam Brooks
Sports Writer