Gryphins Crowned Champs

Wentworth needed a little extra time on Friday evening in Dundas to defeat the Real McCoys 5-4 in overtime at the J.L. Grightmire Arena. With the win, the Gryphins capture the franchise’s first Robertson Cup Championship.

The Gryphins were in full control of the opening period, outshooting Dundas 18-10 in the frame but the teams headed to the first intermission even at a goal a piece.

Phil Brewer got the McCoys on the board first at 9:23 of the period when he took a pass from Ralph Taggart, skated in along the boards and floated a wrister into the top corner. Wentworth notched the tying goal just over two minutes later when Remy Giftopoulos collected the rebound from Tyler Vankleef’s shot and put it over the outstretch Ryan Demelo.

Wentworth kept the pressure on in the second period, taking the lead on Darroll Powe’s pair of goals. The first came at 7:23 when he snapped a shot into the top corner just after a power play opportunity had ended. Powe then gave the visitors a two-goal lead at 10:35 snapping a shot top corner after taking a stretch pass from Kevin Harvey. However, before the period could end, the McCoys got back within a goal on Cam Fergus’ wrister that fooled Dawson Carty with 61 seconds to go in the middle stanza.

Dundas was lucky to be within a goal after the second thanks to Demelo making some timely saves, keeping the home side in the contest.

In the third, it was evenly matched, but the McCoys were able to push the game to overtime. Nolan Sheeran evened the score at three on a power play marker when his shot found the five hole. However, Powe took advantage of a late power play to give Wentworth the lead with three minutes remaining in regulation, completing the hat trick. With time winding down, Fergus picked up his second of the game, sending a shot through Carty’s five hole, evening the game with 1:52 on the clock.

Both squads had chances to put the game away early, but it was Matt Macleod who notched the game and series winner for the Gryphins at 9:17 of the first overtime period.

In the nets, Carty picked up the victory, allowing four goals on 31 shots while Demelo took the loss, stopping 46 shots.

While the Allan Cup Hockey League season has come to an end, both teams, along with the Stoney Creek Tigers, will be back in action April 20^th to 26^th at the Allan Cup Challenge tournament. This year’s event will be held at the Harry Howell Arena in Flamborough, Ontario, hosted by the Wentworth Gryphins.

Fans can purchase tickets through the Eventbrite website (click here) or at the door on game day.

For more information contact Allan Cup Hockey Commissioner Rick Richardson at 905-328-4727 or email: rickystar911@outlook.com