NEWS RELEASE
GUELPH MINOR HOCKEY ASSOCIATION
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The U18 AAA Gryphons are the 2022 OMHA Champions!
This past weekend the U18 AAAs travelled to Oakville for the OMHA Championships.
In Game 1 the Gryphons were up against the #5 ranked Oshawa Generals. The Generals came out strong and put a ton of pressure on the boys. It was back and forth action late in the game when the Gryphs put one away to take a 1-0 lead. With 22 seconds left in the game and Oshawa's net empty, they scored to tie it up. This game would end up a 1-1 tie. Each game of the tournament the other team would select a MVP and this game was goalie Hayden Sabourin.
In Game 2 the Gryphons were up against the #1 in Ontario (#2 in Canada) ranked Ajax-Pickering Raiders. The Gryphs wasted no time jumping all over the Raiders and took an early lead mid-way through the first.
Ajax-Pickering didn't take long to get right back in the game tying it up a minute and a half later. A couple minutes after that the Raiders would take the lead. This would be the only time the Gryphs trailed in the entire tournament. Heading into the second down 2-1, the Gryphons would come out flying. Scoring early and then again a few minutes later to take a 3-2 lead. With all the momentum heading into the third, the boys would pop one home 36 seconds in. Holding onto the lead the rest of the way through Guelph took the game 4-2. MVP of the game went to goalie Max Oldacre.
In Game 3 the Gryphons were up against their SCTA rival Oakville Rangers. Going in the Rangers were trying to play spoilers but the Gryphons had nothing to do with that. 55 seconds in Guelph took the lead. Not looking back for a second the boys took it to the Rangers winning 6-1. MVP of the game was captain Callum Snedden.
With the win over the Rangers the Gryphons took first place in the division. Up next was the York-Simcoe Express in the semifinal.
The game started off a little slow for both teams but then the Gryphs woke up taking it to the Express. Scoring late in the second period the Gryphons would head into the third with a 1-0 lead. In the third, Guelph would jump out to a 2-0 lead then a few minutes later go up 3-0. York-Simcoe would pull the goalie, in a late game attempt, but Guelph scored an empty netter to take the W 4-0. MVP of the game was goalie Hayden Sabourin.
With family, friends, scouts, and more filling the arena the Gryphs were headed to the championship game. This game would see the Gryphons facing off against the Ajax-Pickering Raiders. The Raiders headed into this game obviously looking for redemption from the earlier loss in the round robin.
The U18s would match everything the Raiders brought their way. They took the lead late in the first only to have the Raiders tie it up a minute and a half later. The second period was back and forth action but no goals scored. Going into the third the locals would come out flying scoring two goals minutes apart to take a 3-1 lead.
The Gryphs would take a penalty midway through the third and just after killing it off the Raiders scored to make it 3-2. After what seemed to be a long seven minutes of nail biting, tons of pressure by the Raiders, action the U18 AAA Guelph Gryphons would hear that final buzzer to take the 2022 OMHA Championships and win the #Redhats! The game MVP would go to Tristan Tremble.
Congratulations to Andy Hyvarinen, Emma Rowbotham, Shawn Patterson, and all the players for an amazing tournament! Going undefeated and only trailing once the entire time is great feat. The U18 AAA Gryphons now head to the OHF Championships April 4-10 in Toronto at the Scotiabank Pond.
Monday 2:30 PM vs Reps AAA Hockey Club (GTHL)
Tuesday 3:00 PM vs Huron-Perth Lakers (Alliance)
Wednesday 5:30 PM vs Nepean Raiders (HEO)
Thursday 8:00 PM vs Toronto Young Nationals (GTHL - Host)
Friday 5:30 PM vs Soo Jr Greyhounds (NOHA)
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