Junior Gryphs U18 AAAs have shot at tournament semifinals

TORONTO – The Guelph Junior Gryphons have what amounts to a playoff play-in game Friday at the Ontario Hockey Federation’s U18 AAA championship tournament at the Scotiabank Pond.

The Junior Gryphs are to tangle with the Soo Junior Greyhounds at 5:30 p.m. in the final game of the round-robin segment of the tournament for both teams.

The Junior Gryphs and Junior Hounds enter the game tied for fourth with identical 1-3-0 records. Top four advance to Saturday’s semifinals while the final is to go Sunday.

Guelph’s win was a 6-2 triumph over the Huron-Perth Lakers Tuesday while they lost 4-1 to the Mississauga Reps Monday, 10-2 to the Nepean Raiders Wednesday and 4-2 to the Toronto Young Nationals Thursday.

Will Elliott has scored five times in the tournament for the locals while Madden MacDougall and Connor Gentes each have two goals and Roenick Jakielaszek and Tyler Brezynskie have one apiece.

Callum Snedden has three assists while MacDougall and Jakielaszek have two each and Elliott, Brezynskie, Tristan Tremble and Nolan Hendry have one each.

Hayden Sabourin and Max Oldacre have shared the goaltending chores.

If the Junior Gryphs win Friday’s game, they’ll play a semifinal game against the first-place team Saturday at 5:30 p.m.

Mississauga Reps (3-0-1), Toronto Young Nationals (3-0-1) and Nepean Raiders (3-1-0) can all finish in first place.

The Junior Gryphs earned their spot in the tournament by winning the Ontario Minor Hockey Association’s championship title last weekend.

• Guelph Sports Journal