NEW GLASGOW - The North Nova Gryphons split their two round-robin playoffs this weekend, losing at home on Friday night and winning on the road in Truro on Saturday. On Friday night at the John Brother MacDonald Stadium in New Glasgow, the Gryphons faced off against the Dr. John Hugh Gillis Royals.
Antigonish scored a goal in each of the periods to take the game 3-0.
The Gryphons shook off the loss and regrouped for the road game in Truro on Saturday afternoon against the CEC Cougars. Tommy Hayman opened the scoring in the first minute of the period on an unassissted shorthanded goal. Heading into the second frame with a 1-0 lead, the Gryphons controlled the play for much of the period. Ryan Washburn was awarded a penalty shot at the seven-minute mark as he drew the penalty while on a shorthanded breakaway. Wahsburn made good on the penalty shot and put the Gryphons up by two. The Gryphons fought off two minutes down 5-on-3 before Tommy Hayman and Allister Mason each scored a power-play goal in the last three minutes of the second period to take a 4-0 lead into the intermission.
NNEC kept up the pressure after the break when Mason hit the twine to open the period and Tyler Chisholm scored one minute later. Mason added his third goal of the night to end the game with a 7-0 win. Joel MacLean backstopped the shutout game and assists went to Hayman with two and singles to Sam Cameron, Connor MacDougall, Craig Murray, Scott Graham and Jacob Bailey.
The Gryphons travel to Antigonish Thursday for their next playoff game against the Royals and then host CEC at 6:30 p.m. Friday night at the JBM.
