It would appear that reports of the demise of the Western Mustangs have been exaggerated.
Okay, perhaps there weren't too many reports of trouble in London, but it was a bit odd to have a Baggataway Cup championship weekend without the Mustangs in 2021. After all, they had won the previous four Baggataways and had participated in the final weekend every year since 2011.
Then last fall, with just two teams from the West Division making the Baggataway Cup weekend in the temporary three-division format, a first-round playoff loss to Guelph left Western on the outside looking in as the final six converged in North Bay.
They'll still need to win a playoff game to make it to Trent this November, but Western proved they are still a West power in Week 6 by beating defending champion Brock for the second straight week, this time earning a 10-6 home win seven days after heading into St. Catharines and edging the Badgers 7-6.
The key was a 4-goal second quarter powered by four different scorers: Jacob Hickey, Peirson Noble, Scott Del Zotto and Chris Dong.
It's nothing new for the Mustangs to spread the scoring around—through nine games they have 10 different players with at least 6 goals each.
With Guelph also beating Brock (8-7) in Week 6, the stage is set for a first-place showdown when the Gryphons visit London on Saturday. It would take a big effort from Western to take over top spot, since Guelph won the first meeting between the teams 12-5 back in September. To assure themselves of leapfrogging the Gryphons, the Mustangs would need to win by more than 7 goals on Saturday (Western could also get first if Guelph loses to Laurentian on Sunday, but the 8-0 Gryphons will be heavily favoured over the 0-9 Voyageurs).
Week 6 Games
October 14
Western 10, Brock 6
Box score
October 15
Guelph 8, Toronto 7
Box score
The Gryphons have on average beaten then opponents this year 8-4 while the Varsity Blues aren't even a full goal per game up on the teams they play, but on Saturday Toronto gave Guelph just about all that the 2021 Baggataway Cup finalists could handle. It took a Jabe Verbeek goal with just 2:52 to play in the fourth quarter to propel Guelph to victory.
That was Verbeek's second goal and Mitch Ogilvie's assist on it gave him a 3-point night when added to his pair of markers. Aiden Guld led the way for the Blues with 3 goals and 2 assists.
Bishop's 12, Carleton 4
Box score
The Gaiters improved to 6-2 and stayed a half-game ahead of McGill—for now. Bishop's visits the Redbirds in Montreal for a crucial contest October 19.
Against Carleton, Antoine Tremblay had 4 points (2g/2a) on 5 Bishop's goals in the first quarter as the Gaiters took control and held it throughout the game. Tremblay finished with 4 goals and 3 assists while Hendrik Wulder added 4 goals.
Queen's 11, Ottawa 8
Box score
Queen's and Ottawa alternated 4-1 quarters, with the Gaels managing that score in the first and third and the Gee-Gees achieving it in the second. Queen's put the game away when they broke the trend by scoring the first 2 goals of the fourth frame and held on for the win. Curtis Plante (3g/2a) and Bryan Poetker (1g/4a) each had 5-point nights for Queen's and Reed Allen added a hat trick. Noah Quarrington's 3 goals made him one of three Ottawa players with 3 points, along with Steven Ainsworth (2g/1a) and Liam McCrory (1g/2a).
Western 21, Laurentian 0
Box score
Aaron Ward (4g/4a) and Brady Sprague (5g/2a) had big nights as Western put up bookend 7-goal quarters en route to a runaway win over Laurentian.
October 16
Toronto 14, Laurentian 1
Box score
Davis Bottomley and Aidan Guld are Toronto's leading scorers this season, and they were the top gunners again in the win over Laurentian. Bottomley had 4 goals and 3 assists, Guld 2 and 2. Michael Holmes scored Laurentian's only goal and has 10 of their 19 for the season.
Guelph 8, Brock 7
Box score
The Gryphons and Badgers went to overtime again—like they had in last year's Baggataway Cup final—and this time it was Guelph prevailing when Nicholas Volkov connected in the extra frame to keep the Gryphons undefeated with two games left to play (road games at Western and Laurentian in Week 7).
Carleton 7, Ottawa 6
Box score
The Ravens assured themselves of one of the East Division's four playoff spots with a comeback overtime win.
Ottawa scored the first 5 goals of the game through 24 minutes of play. Carleton responded with the next 6 goals to pull ahead on Sam Trumble's third of the game with 1:58 to play in regulation.
Ottawa levelled to force extra time when Steven Ainsworth just edged the buzzer, scoring with one second remaining.
Joey Gasperetti was the OT hero when he scored a power play marker.
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