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OHL Soo Greyhounds

Alderson nets hat-trick as Hounds down Generals

January 26, 2013 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Soo Greyhounds News Release


SAULT STE. MARIE, ON - Entering the night 8-0-0-1 in their last 9 games on home ice, the Soo Greyhounds weren't looking to repeat what happened twenty-four hours earlier, leaving a point on the table.

With three other West Division clubs in action, the Hounds looked to take care of their own game which had shown so frequently lately, could lead to success. And after BRANDON ALDERSON scored his first-career hattrick one week ago, the overage forward would put his stamp on the game against the Oshawa Generals.

Both teams entered Saturday following shootout contests.

Just under five minutes into the period, MICHAEL SCHUMACHER's shot from the far circle beat Generals starting goaltender Daniel Altshuller high blocker side for the 1-0 lead.

With very few whistles, and no penalties called, the two teams were embattled in a high-paced opening twenty minutes.

MATT MURRAY kept the Hounds ahead with a big pad stop just over the midway point of the period turning aside Michael Dal Colle on the wrap around. Minutes later Oshawa's Tyler Biggs evened the score at the 12:34 mark sending a quick shot from the slot glove side on Murray and a 1-1 tie.

"I thought the first period was the fastest period of hockey that I have seen in this league, no question. In terms of how hard they (Oshawa) were on the puck, how hard they skated shift, after shift after shift. No question that was hard. It was real nice to see our guys deal with that well and keep up. That was a good test and it was another reason or way for our guys to have confidence" began Hound Head Coach Sheldon Keefe.

Moving to the second period, BRANDON ALDERSON regained the Soo lead at 6:30 when SERGEY TOLCHINSKY led the rush before sending a pass from the middle before Alderson's low shot off the wing made it a 2-1 game. The overage forward entered the game with eleven points in his last 7 games.

"It goes to show what confidence will do for you. He's obviously feeling real good, shooting the puck and I think that's a big part of it. Pucks are going in and when you're a confident guy that shoots the puck the way he does you're going to find ways to score goals. He was big tonight for sure" commented Keefe afterwards in reference to Alderson.

Again though the Generals weren't ready to go away. With MURRAY out of his net playing the puck the Greyhound netminder looked for the eventual pass that went off an Oshawa leg for the easy tap-in in front for Boone Jenner and a 2-2 tie.

The Hounds responded with two big goals to regain control. While on their second powerplay of the game, RYAN SPROUL let a left point shot go that would be fired home on the rebound by ANDREW FRITSCH for his 15th goal of the season and the Hounds third lead of the game, now 3-2.

Just over a minute later, JARED MCCANN controlled the puck on the far wall before sending a pass in front and a streaking MICHAEL SCHUMACHER netted his 2nd goal of the game and for the Hounds took a two-goal cushion and 4-2 lead into the dressing room after forty minutes.

When asked about grabbing the later two goals in the second, Keefe explained how his team handled the Generals pulling even. "We responded really well. That was huge, but at the same time, just like last night it would be very easy to point the finger at Matt (for the game tying goal). There was a lot of things going wrong there. It's our defence's job and has been since I got here, it was before I got here, to direct Matt where they want him to move the puck. Our defence did not direct him either way and that's why there was confusion. It looks bad on Matt but there was a lot more going on there than just Matt not making the right play."

At the opposite end of the ice Former Kirkland Lake Goldminer netminder Kenny Appleby would replace Altshuller to start the third period, leaving the Oshawa veteran leaving the game surrendering four goals on twenty-four Greyhound shots after forty minutes.

After Oshawa was tagged with a minor penalty ten seconds into the third, the Hounds used the powerplay to increase their lead to a 5-2 score. On the Hounds first shot against Appleby, BRANDON ALDERSON converted a backhand in front for his 19th goal of the season with assists to SERGEY TOLCHINSKY and SCHUMACHER.

MATT MURRAY would be called upon for one of his 23 saves on the night with 9:50 to go when Lucas Lessio snuck through the Hounds defence only to see his attempt turned aside by the left pad of the Pittsburgh Penguins prospect.

The Generals would work away at a comeback and pull within a goal with a pair of goals one minute and eleven seconds apart. Tyler Biggs, with his second goal of the night, put a shot from the slot stickside on MURRAY at 11:10 and then Bradley Latour redirected a left point shot past the Hound to make it a 5-4 score.

Oshawa would go on the man advantage with 3:13 to play for only the second time, but the Hounds penalty kill kept the play to the outside at a critical point of the contest before going perfect on the night (2-for-2).

That set the stage for the final minute, and with the Oshawa goalie on the bench for the extra attacker, Greyhound BRANDON ALDERSON worked the right wing into the zone before burying his 20th goal of the year, and third of the night to seal a 6-4 victory for the Hounds.

ALDERSON's hat trick was his second in the last four games while improving the overage winger to 10 goals and 4 assists (14 pts) in his last 8 games.

With the win the Hounds take three out of a possible four points on the homestead while improving their record to 26-19-2-2, good for 56 points. The locals end the month of January with a record of 7-2-0-2.

RED STAR THREE STARS OF THE GAME 1 - SSM, Michael Schumacher (26) 2 - SSM, Brandon Alderson (21) 3 - OSH, Tyler Biggs (16)

DICKIE'S HARDEST WORKING HOUND #15 Chris Buonomo

ATTENDANCE- 4,534

Up next, the team now moves onto the road for five consecutive game starting this coming Friday, February 1st - 7:05 p.m. at the Compuware Arena against the Plymouth Whalers. Fans can hear all the action on Rock 101 starting with the Bay Mills Resort & Casino pre-game show at 6:35 p.m.

"Whats coming up is a big segment, we have a good week to prepare for it" concluded Keefe.

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Ontario Hockey League Stories from January 26, 2013


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