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Soo Greyhounds

Halverson Backstops Hounds over Spirit; Earns 1st-Star

January 10, 2015 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Soo Greyhounds News Release


SAGINAW, MI- On a night when the Soo Greyhounds introduced six faces into their line-up, it would be goaltender BRANDON HALVERSON who would shine, as the Hounds began their weekend with a 3-1 win at Saginaw.

The Traverse City, MI product made 33 saves, en-route to the first star honours in the nets for Greyhounds.

"He looked very focused right from warm-up on. He was very prepared today and it showed into the game. We had to rely on him way more than we wanted today tonight, but he was very good. It was tough to see him scored on because he deserved the shutout tonight" began Hounds Head Coach Sheldon Keefe.

Of the six players back in the Hounds line-up, DARNELL NURSE and SERGEY TOLCHINSKY returned from World Junior Hockey Championship action, MICHAEL BUNTING was back following a 10-game OHL suspension, while NICK RITCHIE, CONNOR BOLAND and ANTHONY DeANGELO were making their Greyhound debuts.

In the first period the Greyhounds would have an early (43 seconds into the game) power play but despite the best opportunities from SERGEY TOLCHINSKY and GABE GUERTLER were unable to capitalize.

That was the case in the opening twenty-minutes despite the fact the Hounds outshot the Spirit 16-8.

Less than five minutes into the second period the Hounds would open the scoring when KEIGAN GOETZ drove to the net and followed up a play from ZACH SENYSHYN for his 8th goal of the season.

It was the 19th shot Spirit net minder Evan Cormier faced on the night.

Penalties would then see the Hounds shorthanded, and Saginaw on a pair of 5-on-3 power plays for the Spirit

One penalty saw Hounds BRYAN MOORE ejected at 13:40 of the second for a match penalty for slew footing.

After one two-man advantage was negated by a Spirit penalty, and while skating 4-on-4, the Hounds increased their lead to two goals.

DARNELL NURSE's point show was tipped by MICHAEL BUNTING in front at the 15:20 mark giving the Hounds a 2-0 lead.

The Hound would escape the period with the two goal cushion while slightly being outshot 12-11.

MICHAEL BUNTING made it a three-goal lead, scoring his second goal of the night when SERGEY TOLCHINSKY stick handled in close before sending a pass to the Hounds forward to the left of the Saginaw goal.

Bunting's quick release went off the left pad of Cormier and in, for a 3-0 lead.

Saginaw chipped away at the deficit just 1:21 later, when Mitchell Stephens was the third man on a play, and beat Halverson for his 15th goal of the season cutting the Hounds lead to 3-1.

Following the Saginaw goal, Keefe utilized the Hounds time-out and from there the two teams skated through the rest of the game scoreless.

"This feels very much like the first exhibition game of the season. Obviously, four new faces and three guys who haven't played for us in a month or so, that's seven guys that haven't been playing with us and all the distractions and stuff that have been going on all week it was very unorganized game and we didn't play with any structure or purpose" explained Keefe post-game when asked of his team's play.

"It was a game where we had to rely on our goaltender and our goaltender won us the game" he concluded.

The win was the Hounds third over Saginaw this season, while improving their overall record to 29-9-0-2, good for 60 points and a hold on 1st overall in the Western Conference.

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Ontario Hockey League Stories from January 10, 2015


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