The Waterloo Warriors men’s hockey team took on the Guelph Gryphons on Jan. 15.
Their forceful effort was diminished in a late goal from the Gryphons during the second period off of a power play. The black and gold couldn’t make it back from the 3-1 deficit and ended up losing 5-2.
The Gryphons’ first two goals came early in the first period, within 30 seconds of each other, by Seth Swenson and then Tryg Strand. The Warriors responded late in the first with a goal from rookie Connor Cole.
Trevor Martin, goalie for the Warriors, saved 37 shots while Gryphons goalie Andrew Masters saved 33 shots.
Early in the second period, the Warriors evened the score with a goal by Keigan Goetz.
The game took a turn after a high sticking penalty for the home team. The Gryphons took great advantage of the one-man deficit for Waterloo and scored the goal that would determine the fate of the game.
In a final, controversial goal from the Gryphons’ Scott Simmonds, the lid was sealed on Waterloo’s coffin, leaving the score at 5-2. Martin and the rest of the Warriors will protest that the puck never crossed the line.
Regardless, their heart never wavered throughout the game, and against the first place team, Waterloo held their own (for the most part). The loss perpetuates Waterloo’s losing streak, at seven games without a point. In their current standings the Warriors suffer with 11 losses and 7 wins, putting them in last place. Guelph, on the other hand, is up sixteen victories with a perfect record in 2018, putting them in first in the west division.
The Warriors’ next home game is Feb. 2 against the Brock Badgers.
