Box Score The Varsity Blues men’s hockey team dropped a 7-4 decision to the Guelph Gryphons on Thursday, November 8 at Gryphon Centre Arena.
 
With their third straight loss, the Blues drop to 5-3-1 and remain tied with the Ottawa Gee-Gees for second place in the OUA East.
 
Fourth-year forward Kyle Ventura scored two goals and added one helper in the loss. The Scarborough, Ont., native now leads the Blues with six goals on the year.
 
After sophomore Blues forward Paul Van De Velde (Mariapolis, Man.) opened the scoring six minutes into the contest, the Gryphons quickly proved why they lead the league in scoring.  The home team scored three goals in just over eight minutes, including one on the powerplay, to take a 3-1 lead into the first intermission.
 
Ventura then stepped up and notched back-to-back goals in the opening minutes of the second frame. Rookie defenceman Lane Werbowski assisted both markers to help U of T even the score and get back in the game.
 
Guelph responded with two quick tallies midway through the game, but Van De Velde added his second of the game to narrow the gap to one heading into the final frame.
 
Gryphons forward James Merrett added an insurance marker eight minutes into the third period and an empty-netter with 1:07 remaining would round out the scoring.
 
The Varsity Blues look to bounce back tomorrow night as they head to St. Catharines, Ont., to take on the Brock Badgers. Game time is set for 7:15 p.m.

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