Box Score The University of Toronto Varsity Blues men's hockey team dropped a narrow 5-3 decision to the Guelph Gryphons on Thursday, October 31 at Gryphon Centre Arena.
 
With the loss, the Blues drop to 4-3-0, while Gryphons improve to 5-3-0 with a game in hand over U of T.
 
Fourth-year forward and assistant captain Michael Markovic opened the scoring on the powerplay with 46 seconds remaining in the first period. The Toronto native received a pass from sophomore defenceman Lane Werbowski, split the Guelph defencemen and slid the puck into the back of the net on the partial breakaway. Toronto led 1-0 after one.
 
The flood gates opened in the second period, as both teams combined for six goals.
 
Gryphons forward James Merrett evened the score on the powerplay 1:26 into the frame, wiring a shot into the top corner of the net; however, the Blues bounced right back as Tyler Liukkonen (Sault Ste Marie, Ont.) received a cross crease pass from Jeff Brown (Toronto) and banged it in for the go-ahead goal one minute later.
 
Not to be out done, Guelph's Brett Appio sniped a quick shot past Blues goalie Garrett Sheehan (Cremona, Alta.) less than two minutes later to tie the game at 2-2.
 
The Gryphons went ahead at the 13:30 mark as Robert De Fulviis went five-hole to find the back of the net, but Markovic netted his second of the game as Tyler von Engelbrechten picked off a Guelph pass behind the net and found Markovic all alone in front for the tap in.
 
Kyle Neuber added Guelph's second powerplay goal of the game with just two seconds remaining in the second period to give the home team a 4-3 lead after 40 minutes.

Despite a late man advantage in the third period, the Blues were unable to mount the come back and Appio added an empty-netter to secure the two-goal victory. 
 
Sheehan posted 24 saves in the loss.
 
The Varsity Blues return to action this Saturday, November 2 as they host the Waterloo Warriors at Varsity Arena. The puck drops at 7:30 p.m. Advance tickets are on sale here. The game will also be streamed live via GoBlues.tv.

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