OHL Alumni Shine as Guelph Gryphons Win Frosty Mug at Sleeman Centre

January 23, 2026

Tags: OHL Alumni AJ Cook alumni Anthony Tabak Colby Saganiuk Duncan Penman Ethan Sims Giordano Biondi Griffin Wilson Jack Wismer Nathan Allensen Nolan Dann Nolan DeGurse OHL News Ryan O'Dell Ryan Stepien Tai York U Sports

A packed house at the Sleeman Centre watched OHL alumni take centre stage as the Guelph Gryphons defeated the Brock Badgers 3-1 in the 16th edition of the Frosty Mug, played at the downtown home of the Guelph Storm.

All three Gryphons goals came from former Ontario Hockey League players, with Nathan Allensen, Nolan Dann, and Jack Wismer providing the offence in a game that drew a sellout crowd of 4,942 at the Sleeman Centre.

After Brock opened the scoring early in the first period, Guelph responded with a dominant second period. Gryphons captain Nathan Allensen, a former Barrie Colt, tied the game at 8:04 with his eighth goal of the season. Just over two minutes later, Nolan Dann extended the momentum, scoring what proved to be the game-winning goal to give Guelph a 2-1 lead.

The period ended with a highlight finish from Jack Wismer, who battled through traffic before lifting a backhand into the top corner to make it 3-1. Guelph rookie goaltender Olivier Ciarlo, the former Baie-Comeau Drakkar and Blainville-Boisbrand Armada in the QMJHL, was steady the rest of the way, stopping 28 of 29 shots as the Gryphons closed out the win.

“Getting to play in that atmosphere is something we always look forward to each year,” said Allensen. “It brings back a lot of memories for a lot of us who got to play in similar arenas across the OHL. Winning the Frosty Mug is always a big goal for our program, and I’m happy to be able to play a part in it.”

OHL Alumni Presence

The Frosty Mug once again served as a strong showcase for OHL alumni competing at the U SPORTS level.

Guelph Gryphons OHL Alumni (9):
Nathan Allensen (Barrie)
Giordano Biondi (Sudbury, Hamilton)
Jack Wismer (Flint)
Nolan Dann (Sarnia, Niagara, Flint)
Nolan Degurse (Sarnia)
Ryan O’Dell (Oshawa, Guelph)
Duncan Penman (Saginaw, Mississauga)
Anthony Tabak (Sudbury, Sarnia, Barrie)
Griffin Wilson (Owen Sound)

Brock Badgers OHL Alumni (5):
AJ Cook (Niagara)
Colby Saganiuk (Erie)
Ethan Sims (Niagara, Hamilton)
Ryan Stepien (Saginaw, Kitchener, Oshawa)
Tai York (Barrie)

A Signature Winter Event

The Frosty Mug has become one of the premier dates on the Canadian university hockey calendar. The last four editions have reached the venue’s maximum capacity of 4,942 fans, placing the event among the largest crowds ever recorded for an OUA men’s hockey conference game. The Gryphons now hold a 10-5-1 all-time record in the annual showcase.

The Frosty Mug brings together students, alumni, families, and the wider Guelph community each winter. Played off campus in a major junior venue, it offers a big-game setting that closely mirrors the environments many of the players experienced during their OHL careers.

With the win, Guelph improved to 12-7-2 on the season and continued to hold a spot near the top of the OUA West standings, while Brock fell to 9-9-3.