GUELPH, Ont. - It was a back and forth grudge match but eventually, the Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks came out on top thanks to breakout debuts by four rookies. 

The night started with Guelph celebrating their 2019/20 Queen’s Cup Championship and ended with two unanswered goals by Laurier to seal the victory. 

The Golden Hawks picked up their first season-opening win since the 2017/18 campaign and their first season-opening win on the road since 2015/16.

The first period started with some extracurriculars after the play as the teams shook off the tension from their playoff match up to end Laurier’s 2019/20 season. 

Guelph had an early man advantage from a high-sticking call on rookie Justyn Gurney (North Delta, B.C.). However, Laurier was able to weather the storm with a big save from fellow rookie Christian Propp (Burlington, Ont.), who made his first start as a Golden Hawk. 

Jumping out of the box, Gurney picked up the loose puck in the neutral zone, turned on the jets to blow past the unsuspecting defender and finished the play with a nice tuck behind the right pad of the goaltender. His first as a Golden Hawk and Laurier’s first goal of the new OUA season gave the team a 1-0 lead. 

After the goal, Guelph cranked up the pressure and had a few Grade A scoring chances, but again Propp was there to shut the door.

Coming into the second period, Laurier finished off a lacklustre powerplay and Guelph scored their first equalizer of the night to tie the game 1-1. 

After the goal, Laurier was able to slow the pace and gain back control with three excellent scoring chances in a row. 

In the latter half of the period, the ice opened up with three combined goals between the teams. First, another rookie entered the scoresheet as Caleb Rich (Callander, Ont.) cleaned buried a rebound for his first as a Golden Hawk to make it 2-1. 

Guelph was able to fight back and tie the game up again with under four minutes to go in the second period. Then, with only 24 seconds left, fourth-year veteran Anthony Sorrentino (Woodbridge, Ont.) scored an absolute bullet off the wing for his 50th career regular-season point as a Golden Hawk, giving Laurier the 3-2 advantage going into the third.

After coming out strong to start the third period and hitting a post, Laurier’s lead wouldn’t last long as Guelph came back to tie the game again early in the frame. 

The Golden Hawks were unable to capitalize on their next powerplay though, which led to more momentum going to the home team. This momentum culminated in an odd-man rush which ended in a shot tipped close in front where Propp had to be sharp again. 

Giving some life back to the team, Laurier was gifted another powerplay by a sloppy stick in the neutral zone from Guelph. On their third attempt of the night, the powerplay unit would make no mistake this time, when their 6'8" defensemen Jake Payette (Caledon, Ont.) let out a bomb from the point for his first goal in the OUA in his second season with the team. 

There was no looking back after going up 4-3, as this proved to be the game-winning goal.

The final rookie to join the scoring party was Bair Gendunov (Toronto, Ont.) who outwaited the Guelph goalie with two minutes left to find the back of the net for his first OUA goal after picking up an assist on Rich’s goal. 

Guelph ended up winning the shot count 29-23, but Propp had the last laugh as he picked up his first win as a Laurier Golden Hawk with 26 saves.

All around, it was a night to remember for the new kids on the block with a total of seven points scored by first-year eligible players. However, the veterans were there when they needed to be, with Sorrentino adding an assist and captain Zach Dybowski (Kitchener, Ont.) providing a pair of helpers himself. 

Overall, the team was able to weather the storm from Guelph and never trailed in the game, making for a true statement victory over the reigning champions on their banner night.

PLAYERS OF THE GAME:

Laurier

D Jake Payette (Caledon, Ont.)

The second-year vet picked up his first goal as a Laurier Golden Hawk in his 18th regular-season game, which turned out to be the team’s game-winner. He was a force to be reckoned with on the blueline, keeping the offence to the outside and moving the puck efficiently.

Guelph

RW Aidan Brown (Newmarket, Ont.)

He started the scoring for Guelph with his first goal in the OUA and gave the team momentum to keep pushing for the equalizer.

NEXT UP:

The team is back in action Friday at 7 pm, as they head to London to face the #6 Western Mustangs for the second game of a back-to-back. Laurier looks to start the season 2-0 for the first time since 2017/18. Catch the action live at OUA TV.