Rookie goaltender Mack Shields made 33 saves to lead the York University Lions men's hockey team to a 3-1 victory over the Guelph Gryphons at Gryphon Centre in Guelph, Ont., on Thursday night (Oct. 20).
 
The netminder from Saskatoon was sharp throughout the contest while making a number of key stops, including a big glove save in the first period, and the Lions picked up their third straight victory after starting the year 0-2.
 
After a scoreless first 15 minutes of the game, the Lions scored twice at the end of the first period to take a 2-0 lead into the first intermission. Defenceman Derek Sheppard (Ajax, Ont.) scored his third of the season with assists to Greg Milner (Watford, Ont.) and Trevor Petersen (Thornhill, Ont.) at 14:46, and just over two minutes later Petersen shovelled the puck into the back of the net himself after a slick pass from rookie Daniel Nikandrov (Richmond Hill, Ont.).
 
The Gryphons finally got one back 6:41 into the second period on a goal by MacKenzie Nichol, but that was all they could muster throughout the game.
 
The two teams traded chances in the third period but both goaltenders stood tall. Colton Vannucci (High River, Alta.) scored into the empty net as time wound down to put the game away for the Lions.
 
The Lions were outshot 34-23 in the game. Guelph goaltender Scott Stajcer made 20 saves in the loss, which dropped the Gryphons to 3-2-0 on the season.
 
Next up for the Lions is a visit from the undefeated and No. 6 nationally-ranked Ryerson Rams on Saturday night (Oct. 22) at Canlan Ice Sports. Puck drop is set for 7pm.