Rolheiser secures the win with good goaltending

Victoria Alarcon
Sports & Health Editor
At this point, it’s pretty much do or die out there.
With five games until the playoffs, and in last place in their division with 16 points, the York Lions men’s hockey team are left only with the option of winning every single game from here on out if they’d like a chance at making it.

The message hit home, however, on Jan. 22, as the York Lions came alive to win an easy 3-1 match against the Guelph Gryphons at Canlan Ice Sports.
It all started in first period, when the Lions used consistent passing and tough determination to maintain a clear advantage over their opponent, who was strug- gling to catch-up; this led to two goals scored, by rookie forward Adam Stuart and second-year right wing Jesse Messier.
Stuart made a great play to skate past the Gryphon’s defence and score a close shot into the net, whereas Messier shot the puck from a fair distance away from his opponent’s net.
The real player of the night was rookie goaltender Travis Rolheiser, who made big saves and came through when the Lions needed him.
“Travis Rolheiser made key saves all night. Travis was recruited here from Spruce Grove Saints, and is a number one goaltender in the Alberta Junior hockey league and is turning into the goaltender that we thought he would be,” said Lions head coach Jim Wells.
It couldn’t have been more of a perfect night for the rookie as he upended forward Guelph Gryphon Matt Lyall on more than one occasion. The centre forward had a clear shot in a breakaway in the first period, but was unsuccessful in getting one past Rolheiser, and it was the same for every other Guelph Gryphon who came his way.
The only shot to pass Rolheiser was a power play goal in the second period where the Lions were left to defend with only four men. From that point on, however, Rolheiser defended heavily during power plays and tricky forwards who managed to get past York’s defence.
“Today our defensive zone was pretty tight,” said Rolheiser, who made 35 saves that night and is listed as one of the Ontario University Athletics top goalies. “Most of the shots came from the outside, so it was easy for me.” Though the York goalie came up big in a night that counted, it wouldn’t have been the same without the effort put out by players like Messier and Matt Thomson, who pressured their opponents and stayed with them at every chance they had.
“Tonight we worked as a team – every individual was going and we had a better game because of it,” said Messier after the match. “I think everyone brought it, from the goaltender right through all four lines.”
The team is unquestionably still in a tough spot, from a poor performance all season long, but if the team can play the way the team played tonight then there is some hope in it for York.
“From the start of the season we did well, but we had a really tough November and even though we fought hard and outplayed teams, we did not win and sometimes that happens. And unfortunately that’s the situation we put ourselves in,” said Wells, who knows that losing one game at this point will end any chance the team has for making it to the playoffs this year. “The strategy [to make it to the playoffs] now is to take it one game at a time, one period at a time and go as hard as we can.”
THINGS YOU DIDN’T KNOW ABOUT THE MEN’S HOCKEY TEAM
The tallest player on the York’s men’s hockey team is Chris Jones, at six-foot-four
York’s men’s hockey team won the Ontario University Athletics Championship (OUA) four years in a row, back from 1984 to 1988.
Growing up, York Lions men’s hockey captain Chris Jones was inspired by Joe Sakic.
The best game recorded for the men’s hockey team was a 3-0 home win against the Lakehead Thunderwolves, who are second in the west division standings.
York Lions men’s hockey team have yet to earn a winning streak, but have recorded two five-game losing streaks.
The men’s hockey team have yet to win against the Western Mustangs, their toughest opponent.
Second-year goalie David Blair is 16th in the OUA top goalies.
Men’s hockey coach Jim Wells is in his second season with the York Lions.
With files from yorkulions.ca and oua.ca
Game Highlights Gryphons vs Lions
Match starts off with two penalties against Jesse Messier, giving Guelph the power play and scoring opportunities.
York goalie Travis Rolheiser defends against shots made by Guelph Gryphon James Merrett as he catches the puck in his glove during the first period.
Adam Stuart gets the first goal of the night in the first period after continuous shots at the net. Assisted by Matt Thomson.
Second period kicks off with a clear shot for Lion Jesse Grespan, who makes the score 3-0.
Guelph earns a powerplay after Lion Kyle Lamb is penalized for hooking and gets the goal after Jon Thomas Mac- donald makes his way around York’s defence.
Last few minutes of the third period, small brawls break out at York’s net as the Guelph Gryphons try to catch-up.
Match ends 3-1 in favour of the York Lions.