February 21, 2010
GOLDEN HAWKS FORCE GAME 3 IN MEN'S HOCKEY SERIES
GUELPH, Ont. - The Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks extended their season on Saturday as they evened up the best-of-three playoff series against the Guelph Gryphons with a 3-2 victory in front of a crowd of 185.
The Laurier win forces a game three in the first round of the provincial playoffs which will take place at the Waterloo Memorial Recreation Complex Sunday night at 7:30 p.m.
Colin Williams (Orangeville, Ont.) scored the game winner as he took a shot from the right wing beating Guelph netminder Scott VanBommel (Norwich, Ont.) in the third period. The goal came only 3:21 into the period.
The Golden Hawks started off having some trouble putting shots on net in the first frame being out shot 11-7 by the Gryphons.
"In the break we talked about putting pucks and bodies by the net," commented Laurier head coach Kelly Nobes on the adjustment made at the first intermission. "It's been a key for us from the start and once we were able to do it, we saw some good results and some good bounces."
The second frame saw Golden Hawk captain Jean-Michel Rizk (Dunham, Que.) net a power-play marker as he put in a pass from behind the net from regular season scoring leader Paul Bradley (Calgary). A couple of minutes later Jason Bergeron (Ancaster, Ont.) was able to tip a shot from defenseman Chad Kennedy (Mississauga, Ont.) to beat VanBommel for the second time.
"Kennedy put a nice shot at the net and I was in tip range and was able to put it in," commented Bergeron on his goal. "It was an important goal for us to get at the time, as it put us up by two."
Guelph responded with a power play marker less than a minute later to close the gap before Williams scored the insurance marker early in the third. Kris Belan (Florence, Ont.) closed the gap for the Gryphons with his second of the series as he netted another power-play marker with a tap in front of the net.
"We responded well tonight," commented Nobes on the team's performance in the game. "Our sense of urgency was there from the beginning of the game and we were able to penetrate and get a couple of big goals in the second."
Hawk backstop Jeff MacDougald (Shallow Lake, Ont.) stopped 34 shots on net in the contest compared to VanBommel's 20. It's a continuation of the consistent pressure Guelph has shown throughout the regular season. "MacDougald has played well for us against Guelph all season long as they continue to throw pucks at the net," stated Nobes on his starting goalie's performance.
The game saw a lot more opportunities for the purple-and-gold than game one of the series where the Hawks fell 3-0 to the Gryphons.
"They were out muscling us on one-on-one battles on Thursday," commented Bergeron on the difference between the two contests. "Tonight we gave it some extra and it showed and the shots were a bit closer and we played a lot better."
The Golden Hawks were one for two on the power play while the Gryphons were two for four.
The box office at the Waterloo Memorial Recreation Complex will open at 6:30 p.m. on Sunday for the 7:30 p.m. puck drop. Adult tickets are $8, students $6 and Laurier/Guelph students and children $5.
Source: Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks
The Laurier win forces a game three in the first round of the provincial playoffs which will take place at the Waterloo Memorial Recreation Complex Sunday night at 7:30 p.m.
Colin Williams (Orangeville, Ont.) scored the game winner as he took a shot from the right wing beating Guelph netminder Scott VanBommel (Norwich, Ont.) in the third period. The goal came only 3:21 into the period.
The Golden Hawks started off having some trouble putting shots on net in the first frame being out shot 11-7 by the Gryphons.
"In the break we talked about putting pucks and bodies by the net," commented Laurier head coach Kelly Nobes on the adjustment made at the first intermission. "It's been a key for us from the start and once we were able to do it, we saw some good results and some good bounces."
The second frame saw Golden Hawk captain Jean-Michel Rizk (Dunham, Que.) net a power-play marker as he put in a pass from behind the net from regular season scoring leader Paul Bradley (Calgary). A couple of minutes later Jason Bergeron (Ancaster, Ont.) was able to tip a shot from defenseman Chad Kennedy (Mississauga, Ont.) to beat VanBommel for the second time.
"Kennedy put a nice shot at the net and I was in tip range and was able to put it in," commented Bergeron on his goal. "It was an important goal for us to get at the time, as it put us up by two."
Guelph responded with a power play marker less than a minute later to close the gap before Williams scored the insurance marker early in the third. Kris Belan (Florence, Ont.) closed the gap for the Gryphons with his second of the series as he netted another power-play marker with a tap in front of the net.
"We responded well tonight," commented Nobes on the team's performance in the game. "Our sense of urgency was there from the beginning of the game and we were able to penetrate and get a couple of big goals in the second."
Hawk backstop Jeff MacDougald (Shallow Lake, Ont.) stopped 34 shots on net in the contest compared to VanBommel's 20. It's a continuation of the consistent pressure Guelph has shown throughout the regular season. "MacDougald has played well for us against Guelph all season long as they continue to throw pucks at the net," stated Nobes on his starting goalie's performance.
The game saw a lot more opportunities for the purple-and-gold than game one of the series where the Hawks fell 3-0 to the Gryphons.
"They were out muscling us on one-on-one battles on Thursday," commented Bergeron on the difference between the two contests. "Tonight we gave it some extra and it showed and the shots were a bit closer and we played a lot better."
The Golden Hawks were one for two on the power play while the Gryphons were two for four.
The box office at the Waterloo Memorial Recreation Complex will open at 6:30 p.m. on Sunday for the 7:30 p.m. puck drop. Adult tickets are $8, students $6 and Laurier/Guelph students and children $5.
Source: Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks
