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Soo Greyhounds

Gettinger's Gain Leads Hounds Past Belleville

November 8, 2014 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Soo Greyhounds News Release


SAULT STE. MARIE, ON - Entering the 11th game of his rookie season, Hounds' winger TIM GETTINGER (3rd/2014) would have an impact as big as his 6'5", 202-lb frame. The North Olmstead, OH product doubled his goal output of the season helping build the Hounds 3-0 lead before skating over the Belleville Bulls Friday Night.

From the drop of the opening puck, the Greyhounds intensity, speed and goaltending led to a quick, strong start to the game.

"It was a lot better. Right from the goaltending, to how we exited early. We pushed pucks, made plays when we had to make plays" began Hound Associate Coach Joe Cirella.

"We made breakdowns but Brandon was there every time we had a breakdown all the way through" he continued.

And while the locals wouldn't light the lamp until late in the period, the chances were aplenty early on.

ZACK SENYSHYN sped up the right wing just forty-five seconds into the game and beat the Belleville defenceman before ringing a shot off the right post in his attempt to beat Bulls netminder Charlie Graham.

Graham later slid across to foil a night three-way passing play between SERGEY TOLCHINSKY, GABE GUERTLER and TIM GETTINGER around five minutes in keeping the game scoreless.

The Hounds build up shot advtanges of 8-1 and 10-2 in the opening half of the period before opening the scoring.

With 2:23 to play in the period, TIM GETTINGER scored his 3rd goal of the season when he appeared to get a piece of a shot from further out, that floated overtop Graham and into the net for a 1-0 lead.

"He is getting better. He is a big body and he plays responsible and he has a lot of skill. When we talk defensively, it's great for him to be put in this role. He didn't disappoint. Hopefully he can continue to do that" said Cirella of the Hounds' winger.

At the other end of the ice Hounds' BRANDON HALVERSON worked the glove saves and stops from in tight as part of his 12 saves of the period to keep the Hounds 1-0 lead after the first.

Starting the second period with fourteen seconds on the penalty-kill the Hounds would then face their second shorthanded situation in the early going. The team's penalty kill unit was perfect in these situations and 3-for-3 overall on the night while pressing with chances to score of their own.

JEAN DUPUY and MICHAEL BUNTING worked an odd-man rush while down a man and then later TIM GETTINGER blocked a pass in the neutral zone before breaking past the Bulls defense before trying to tuck the puck low as the Hounds searched for their second goal of the game.

"I think it starts from your goaltender and it works it's way out. I thought we really exited the puck well when we had it and sometimes that becomes an issue but for the most part we jumped and we were real responsible for that part of the game (when we are killing)" explained Cirella about the team's penalty-killing performance.

They (Hounds) would increase the lead quickly after (4:44) when ZACH SENYSHYN used the right wing to speed around the Bulls' defender and tucked the puck low beside Graham for a 2-0 lead. The goal was Senyshyn's 5th of the season.

Just under for minutes later (8:43) , GETTINGER notched his second goal of the night while standing in front of the goal. JEAN DUPUY cycled the puck around the Belleville goal and sent a pass to SERGEY TOLCHINSKY who found GETTINGER for the backhand and a 3-0 Greyhounds lead through two periods.

The Hounds outshot Belleville 21-14 in the period, and held a 35-26 shot advantage overall.

After Remi Elie put Belleville on the board 10:59 into the third period, BRANDON HALVERSON put a big left pad save on Stephen Harper preserving the two-goal Greyhounds lead.

With seven minutes to go, Charlie Graham foiled a play between GUSTAV BOURAMMAN, GUERTLER and GETTINGER in their attempt to regain the Hounds a two-goal cushion.

Stephen Harper would come back to pull Belleville within a goal with under three minutes to play when his innocent looking wrist shot from the point found its way through bodies to cut the Hounds lead to 3-2.

Facing sixteen shots against in the third period, and later seeing the visitors pull their goalie for an extra attacker, the Hounds held strong and were able to defend against the pressure and run out the time to hold on for the win.

The victory improved the Hounds to 12 wins and 5 losses on the season, good for 24 points heading into their final game of the weekend.

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