TMU Athletics & Recreation

TORONTO - The Ryerson Rams' offense failed to keep up as they fell 5-2 to the Guelph Gryphons in their home opener on Thursday night.

Ryerson's top line with Matt Mistele (Whitby, Ont.), Hayden McCool (Whitby, Ont.) and Mathew Santos (Toronto) looked promising all game. Jesse Barwell (Oakville, Ont.) and David Miller (Burlington, Ont.) secured the Rams' goals. Santos was all over the ice, finishing his checks and fighting hard every shift. Guelph's lineup was speedy, keeping the Rams D-men on edge. The Rams powerplay was at a standstill all game, going 0 for 6. 

In the first period, the Rams were left longing for a goal after plenty of missed chances. Less than a minute in, Mistele's sprawling pass found McCool alone in front, but he sent it over the net. Troy Timpano (Pickering, Ont.) flashed his glove throughout the period, keeping the Rams' deficit from worsening. 

Four minutes in, a pass sprung Guelph's Todd Winder, who sniped it home from the faceoff circle, making it 1-0. A few minutes later, Cameron Searles centred it from behind the net to Matt Kenney who snuck another one by Timpano.    

Ryerson's Aaron Hyman (Calgary, Alta.) was welcomed to the OUA by stopping a shorthanded Guelph breakaway with a strong backcheck. 

In the last minute of play in the first, Connor Bramwell found the puck in the slot and lifted it over Timpano's stretched pad to make it 3-0 entering the intermission. 

In the second, Timpano continued to keep the Rams in it, stopping a 2-on-1 early on. Ryerson's defense also did their part by blocking plenty of Guelph shots. The Rams were plagued by more woes in finishing off their chances. Despite two second period power-plays, more spirited play by Santos, and a promising drive to the net by Domenico Commisso (Oakville, Ont.), Ryerson went scoreless through 40 minutes. 

In the last minute of the second, a quick centring pass from Bramwell found Marc Stevens alone in the slot, who snapped it home. The Gryphons carried a 4-0 lead into the second intermission. 

Less than three minutes into the third, the Rams were caught puck-watching as Mikkel Aagaard (Frederikshavn, Denmark) cashed in Guelph's fifth of the game. A minute later, Steven Harland's (Toronto) pass out front to David Miller finally put the Rams on board, making it 5-1. Before the final buzzer, Jesse Barwell managed to make it 5-2 on another dish from Harland.

"I thought we came out and for whatever reason weren't ready to compete off the hop," said head coach Johnny Duco post-game. "If you don't show up ready to compete and execute for 60 minutes, that's what's going to happen." 

In regards to the Rams' next game against Toronto, Duco said, "You got to out-work them. They're one of the hardest working teams." 

The Rams are up for a challenge and will look to regroup on Saturday when they take on the UofT Varsity Blues at home at 7:15 PM in the Battle of Toronto.