OHL Soo Greyhounds

Challenge Accepted: Hounds Battle Battalion to Shootout Win

January 30, 2015 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Soo Greyhounds News Release


SAULT STE. MARIE, ON- The Soo Greyhounds knew the type of game their opposition would deploy on the ice, and while it took more than the sixty-five minutes to decide Friday Night's game against the North Bay Battalion, a win would extend their winning streak to nine games.

"I thought there was a lot of really good signs in the game. One of the things we challenged our guys to do was to beat them at their own game in terms of defending and I thought we did a really good job. I don't think our guys gave up an odd-man rush the whole game, our guys were committed to stopping on the puck, getting above and making them have to come through us" began Hounds Head Coach Sheldon Keefe.

"I was pleased. I'm anxious to watch the video back and get a better feel for everything but from the bench I was much happier with our effort and our attention to defensively and just the pride defensively."

Meeting North Bay for just the second time this year, and the first time in three months, it took a while to get things figured out and going offensively.

For the home side it took over six-and-a-half minutes to get their first shot on goal.

And after killing off consecutive short-handed situations, the Hounds fought back in the shot department while getting some of their best chances off the sticks of TIM GETTINGER and JARED MCCANN while going through a scoreless first period of play.

Alex Henriksson was stopped by BRANDON HALVERSON early in the second period before they later opened the scoring.

Defenceman Kyle Wood let go a one-time shot from the left point, on the power play, at 4:42 to give North Bay the 1-0 lead.

Less than a minute later, and with MICHAEL BUNTING battling for puck possession in front of the goal of Jake Smith, ANTHONY DeANGELO jumped in from the point and roofed home the tying goal at 5:36.

For DeAngelo that was his 12th goal of the year and second as a Hound.

NICK RITCHIE (in photo) gave the Hounds their first lead on a nice play between himself and BLAKE SPEERS at 12:36 for the 2-1 Greyhounds lead.

SPEERS and GABE GUERLTER picked up the assists.

The Hounds had scored two goals on their first five shots of the period.

North Bay would pull even on their second of three power plays in the period.

Seconds after the Battalion man advantage became a 5-on-3, Kyle Wood was alone in front and would go to the glove side on Halverson to even the score at two and that's how the game stayed through two periods of play.

While allowing just two shots against in the first eight and a half minutes of the third period, the locals thought they had taken the lead with 11:49 to go.

A CONNOR BOLAND shot was redirected in front but the official deemed unintentional contact of Jake Smith while waving the goal off resulting in the game remaining tied.

TIM GETTINGER put the Hounds in front for the second time on the night when he took a second shot towards a sprawling Smith for his 8th goal of the year and a 3-2 Greyhounds lead.

That lasted exactly two minutes before miscommunication deep in the Greyhounds zone resulted in a feed to Kyle Wood who deposited the puck into a wide open net for his first career hat trick and a 3-3 tie that would force overtime.

In the extra session the Hounds held the upper hand including chances by JARED MCCANN who was sprung through on a stretch pass and then NICK RITCHIE rung a backhand off the crossbar but neither side could capitalize.

So to a shootout we would go.

In Round Five, JUSTIN BAILEY used speed before going glove side on Smith to give the Hounds the advantage.

Nick Moutrey was subsequently stopped, along with three other shooters by a strong performance by BRANDON HALVERSON as the Hounds picked up the extra point and the win.

"I thought he was great all game. They didn't score a goal 5-on-5 other than that one. I thought he was real good. The goals he let in they're tough shots, clean looks by a guy that has scored a lot of goals from the defence" said Keefe of his net minder.

"I thought he was really good all game and in the shootout."

With the victory the Hounds kept their winning-streak in tact while improving their overall record to 36-9-0-2, good for 74 points.

Joseph Raaymakers will get the start on Saturday Night when the Hounds host the Mississauga Steelheads.

ATTENDANCE - 4,573

RED STAR THREE STARS

1- NB, Kyle Wood

2- SSM, Blake Speers

3- NB, Mike Amadio

UP NEXT;

The quick weekend home stand for the Hounds concludes tomorrow night - Saturday, January 31 - when the Mississauga Steelheads make their lone visit of the regular season to town.

Opening face-off is set for 7:07 p.m.

Tickets are on-sale beginning at 10 a.m. at the Essar Centre Box Office or online at www.essarcentre.ca, or by phone at 1.866.775.9422

Check out the Soo Greyhounds Statistics



Ontario Hockey League Stories from January 30, 2015


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