The Ryerson Rams and Guelph Gryphons played for the first time since the Gryphons eliminated the Rams in the OUA semi-finals. Ryerson is a year older with heightened expectations and the Gryphons lost many key pieces but are still looking to double dip as champions.

The first two periods were a well-fought chess match with Ryerson taking the lead and Guelph answering the bell. Then, in less than twenty seconds, the Rams scored two goals to put the team up 3-1 heading into the third period.

The moment the puck dropped for the third, you could instantly tell the Rams were in trouble. They gave up a breakaway that was turned aside by Fanny Vigneat and the Gryphons poured onto the attack. Vigneat and the post kept the Rams in the game, but very quickly, the speed and pressure the Gryphons turned up became a problem.

Ryerson took penalty after penalty and Guelph took advantage. The result was a whopping six unanswered goals and a decisive 7-3 victory for the Gryphons. This game showed both the patience and maturity of Guelph’s team as well as the lack of discipline the Rams possess which is becoming a big issue for this team.

Ryerson’s penalty kill isn’t good enough for this team to continue taking careless penalties. They do a horrible job of getting the puck out of the defensive zone and one of the power play goals they allowed happened when a Gryphon player was able to get right in front of Vigneat and tuck it past her blocker without any fight from a Ram.

It seemed that after the second period, the Rams thought they could cruise through the final twenty minutes. Well, the Gryphons fought back and took the game decisively and there are a lot of things Ryerson can learn from this game.

Now they know to never take the foot off the gas pedal – especially if you’re playing the reigning OUA champions – and the importance of staying disciplined, no matter what your lead is.

This team is no longer the fun, rookie-filled team that’s full of surprises. The Rams proved last season that they are the real deal and the rest of the OUA are playing them like that. No more excuses, it’s time for this team to take the next step and start acting like one.