LONDON, Ont. – Mustang forward Aaron Snow (Windsor, Ont.) scored two goals and earned two assists while goaltender Anthony Grieco (Brampton, Ont.) made 30 saves as Western defeated the Guelph Gryphons 5-1 on Oct. 30 at Thompson Arena.

The remaining Mustang goals were scored by Keaton Turkiewicz (Brantford, Ont.), Patrick Ouellet (Baie-Comeau, Q.B.), and Kevin Baker (Georgetown, Ont.). Guelph’s Jake Lalonde (Sudbury, Ont.) scored the only Gryphon goal.

Only 30 seconds into the first period, Snow blocked Gryphon defender’s shot and broke away from play. Snow streaked past the Guelph defender and released a rapid shot past goaltender Scott VanBommel (Norwich, Ont.).

With less than a minute to play in the first frame, Snow fought for the puck on the offensive blue line and managed to bounce a puck to Turkiewicz who wired a backhand shot into the top corner to take a 2-0 lead.

The game’s physicality heightened as both teams’ pressure increased and Guelph got called for a tripping penalty midway through the second period. Baker moved the puck swiftly to Snow behind the goal line who hit an open Ouellet in the slot. Ouellet ripped a quick shot past VanBommel to score Western’s only powerplay goal.

Both teams received 9 coincidental penalties and Western went 1/4 on the powerplay while limiting Guelph to 0/8.

Western was on the penalty kill when Ryan Martinelli (London, Ont.) wrapped a shot around the boards to forward Jason Furlong (London, Ont.). Furlong tipped the puck past the Gryphon defender to Snow who snapped another quick shot top shelf to beat VanBommel for his second goal of the evening.

London native Scott Aarssen (London, Ont.) said the Mustangs penalty kill has been a crucial aspect of their game.

“We’re blocking shots and your best penalty kill has to be your goaltenders and our goaltenders are playing really well, but the guys are coming down blocking shots,” said Aarssen.

Guelph’s forward Lalonde snuck a questionable shot past Grieco to make the score 4-1.

Baker scored Western’s fifth goal at 17:56 of the third period, splitting the Gryphon defenders after receiving a pass from the middle and beating VanBommel on the stick side.

The Mustangs will travel to Laurier University on Oct.31 for a 7:30 p.m. game.

BOX SCORE
Western 5, Guelph 1
(Oct 30, 2009 at Thompson Arena, London, Ont.)
1st Period
1. Western, Snow 1   0:32.
2. Western, Turkiewicz 3 (Snow, Aarssen), 19:18.
Penalties-Turner Uwo (tripping), 2:11; Lamb Uwo (high sticking), 6:14; Gale Gue (interference), 7:17; McCann Uwo (slashing), 11:07; Magera Gue (roughing), 15:19; Corbeil Uwo (inter. on goaltender), 15:19.
2nd Period
3. Western, Ouellet 2 (Snow, Baker), 10:27 (pp).
Penalties-Martinelli Uwo (slashing), 6:27; Knowles Gue (tripping), 9:21; Brook Gue (interference), 11:25; Swit Uwo (roughing), 11:25; Belan Gue (high sticking), 17:21; Aarssen Uwo (roughing), 17:21.
3rd Period
4. Western, Snow 2 (Furlong, Martinelli), 9:35 (sh).
5. Guelph, Lalonde 2 (Macdonald, Gvora), 15:55.
6. Western, Baker 4 (Nemeth), 17:56.
Penalties-Martin Uwo (cross checking), 3:33; Knowles Gue (inter. on goaltender), 3:57; Douglas Gue (roughing), 4:32; Gale Gue (roughing), 4:32; Lillie Gue (roughing), 4:32; Furlong Uwo (roughing), 4:32; Lamb Uwo (roughing), 4:32; Martinelli Uwo (roughing), 4:32; Swit Uwo (cross checking), 7:44; Jefferies Gue (roughing), 10:43; Turner Uwo (boarding), 13:16; Belan Gue (roughing), 16:24; Oginski Gue (roughing), 16:24; Killing Uwo (roughing), 16:24; Snow Uwo (roughing), 16:24; Sharp Uwo (slashing), 18:20; Belan Gue (roughing), 18:24; Killing Uwo (roughing), 18:24.
Scoring By 1 2 3 T
Western 2 1 2 5
Guelph  0 0 1 1
Shots on Goal 1 2 3 T
Western 7 12 12 31
Guelph  16 5 10 31
Powerplays: Western 1/4, Guelph 0/8.
Goalies- Western, Grieco (W, 4-0-0, 30 saves on 31 shots). Guelph, VanBommel (L,0-2-1, 26 saves on 31 shots).
Attendance:150
Referees-Ray McManus.
Linesmen- Brent Thompson, Pat Rozendal