GUELPH, Ont. - The Golden Hawks were defeated 3-2 by the Guelph Gryphons in the 13th Annual Frosty Mug on Thursday at the Sleeman Centre. 

Laurier was looking to lift the Frosty Mug for a second consecutive year in front of the 4,942 fans in attendance. Last year, Christian Propp made 23 saves en route to a shutout and a 4-0 Golden Hawk win.

The players matched the energy of the building and came out buzzing. The opening period was full of hits, scoring opportunities and big saves. 

Sam Rhodes hushed the Guelph crowd with a buzzer-beater as he tipped the puck past Guelph's Brendan Cregan to put the Golden Hawks up 1-0 as the first period expired. 
 

M?? P1 - Patrick Brown beats the buzzer to send the Golden Hawks into the first intermission 1-0!

Golden Hawks | 1@guelph_gryphons | 0 #SoarAbove #WLUvsGUE #FrostyMug pic.twitter.com/h3OkFRNj7O

— Laurier Golden Hawks (@WLUAthletics) January 20, 2023

Brown's goal zapped most of the energy out of the Sleeman Centre for most of the second, but it returned when Guelph scored a pair of quick goals in the dying minutes of the frame. 

The Gryhons' Anthony Tabak scored the first goal by redirecting a pass from Ted McGeen. Forty seconds later, Jacob Winterton threaded a cross-crease pass to Nolan DeGurse who scored to give Guelph its first lead of the game.

Laurier rookie Colin Campbell tied the game at two by roofing a gorgeous shot from the face-off circle under two minutes into the final frame. 
 

M?? P2 - Campbell lets one go??

Golden Hawks | 2@guelph_gryphons | 2#WLUvsGUE #FrostyMug pic.twitter.com/SU4pGiGPp7

— Laurier Golden Hawks (@WLUAthletics) January 20, 2023

Guelph sophomore Luke Bignell scored the eventual go-ahead goal on his team's fifth power-play of the game just over the halfway mark in the third. 

Laurier put the pressure on and pulled Propp around the 1:30 mark, but the Gryphons held on to defeat Laurier 3-2.

Playoff Picture

The Golden Hawks now boast a record of 10-10-1 but remain in 7th place, sitting just outside of a playoff spot. UofT holds the last playoff spot and sits only one point above the Golden Hawks but has a game in hand.

Plus + Return to Guelph

Colin Campbell, a former Guelph Storm player, looked right at home in the Frosty Mug. He was wheeling around the ice, especially in the third period. To cap off his night, he scored his fourth goal of the season, leading Laurier's rookies in goal-scoring as a defenseman.

Plus + Goaltending Duel

Laurier's Christian Propp and Guelph's Brendan Cregan put on a clinic at the Frosty Mug. Christian Propp faced five separate Gryphon power-plays, multiple high-quality chances and a breakaway.

He stopped 33 of 36 shots that he faced for a .916 save percentage on the night. 
 

M?? P1 - Propp makes the breakaway stopp!

Golden Hawks | 0@guelph_gryphons | 0 #SoarAbove #WLUvsGUE pic.twitter.com/PTPw3Z6s0L

— Laurier Golden Hawks (@WLUAthletics) January 20, 2023

Brendan Cregan stopped 38 of the 40 shots sent in his direction by the Golden Hawks sent his way.

Up Next

The Golden Hawks set off on a road trip to Thunder Bay where they will take on the Lakehead Thunderwolves on Saturday night beginning at 7 pm. Catch all the action live on OUA.tv