Hounds Drop Season Opener in Overtime to Windsor
September 25, 2015 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Soo Greyhounds News Release
Sault Ste. Marie, ON- With many new faces, and lack of practice/game time together, the result in Friday's season opener still left Greyhounds Head Coach Drew Bannister happy with his club.
"Overall I thought the effort was there. I really liked the way we competed, I thought we had second efforts something I didn't see in Saturday's (exhibition) game last week" began Bannister.
"I thought we played with a lot more place and created opportunities off the rush. One of the things we can do a lot better is start throwing more pucks on net. I thought we were too cute in certain areas and we need to do a better job throwing pucks to the net and getting traffic there" he continued.
The Hounds opened their 2015-16 season with an overtime loss (2-3) to their division opponent, the Windsor Spitfires.
A back-and-fourth opening period saw the Hounds weather their lone shorthanded situation in the first ten minutes of the game before they would open the scoring.
At 14:32, BORIS KATCHOUK moved away from two Spitfires before firing past the glove hand of Michael DiPietro for the 1-0 Greyhound lead after twenty minutes.
For Katchouk it was his 1st career Ontario Hockey League goal.
The two teams skated through a scoreless second period while the Hounds had three standout opportunities to build their lead among their nine shots in the period.
Early while on a power play, BOBBY MACINTYRE fed BLAKE SPEERS who found iron while later JACK KOPACKA and then ZACH SENYSHYN on a breakaway were foiled.
Early in the third period (1:24), Aaron Luchuk pulled Windsor even finished off some choppy play from both sides by evening the game at one.
Just under five minutes later JACK KOPACKA regained the Hounds lead with his 1st career OHL tally.
With bodies in front, Kopacka's shot found it's way past DiPietro for the 2-1 Greyhound lead.
"I thought they both were really good. I thought Jack was very good tonight and Boris was great again tonight. I thought both stepped up their place even from what we saw in exhibition so I was happy to see that" said Bannister when asked about his two goal scorers (Katchouk and Kopacka) on the night.
Sooite Anthony Stefano pulled Windsor even for the second time as he blasted a shot off the left wing and over the glove hand of JOSEPH RAAYMAKERS at the 13:31 mark.
And with time winding down the two teams pressed for the go-ahead goal only to both see iron rung with the Hounds shot coming off the stick of GABE GUERTLER, while Windsors chance came from Bradley Latour.
Heading to 3-on-3 overimte, it would last just twenty-eight seconds before Mikhail Sergachev was sprung in behind the Hounds and went five-hole for the game winner and a 3-2 Windsor victory.
"You have to be aware of your check and stay above him at all times. For one second if you lose them they get that extra step and we saw that happen tonight. That's unfortunate, that's a learning process for all the guys on the ice and on the bench" stated Bannister in regards to the 3-on-3 overtime.
"The awareness on the ice just has to be a little bit better" he added.
Ontario Hockey League Stories from September 25, 2015
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- Steelheads Shut out 67s in Home Opener - Brampton Steelheads
- Sting Edged by Otters at Home - Sarnia Sting
- Peterborough Prevails in Battalion's Opener - North Bay Battalion
- Generals Spoil Storm Opener with 3-0 Win - Guelph Storm
- Hounds Drop Season Opener in Overtime to Windsor - Soo Greyhounds
- Rangers Fall 5-4 in OT in Season Opener - Kitchener Rangers
- Wolves Drop Season Opener - Sudbury Wolves
- 67's Seeking First Win at Home - Ottawa 67's
- Cianfrone Makes Big Splash in Win - Owen Sound Attack
- Otters Hold on to Beat Sarnia - Erie Otters
- IceDogs Maul Wolves 8-1 in 2015/16 Opener - Niagara IceDogs
- Erie Acquires Pick from Owen Sound - Erie Otters
- Knights Lace up in Gold this Weekend - London Knights
- Attack Acquire Cianfrone and Dekoning - Owen Sound Attack
- Steelheads Acquire Jack Flinn from Owen Sound - Brampton Steelheads
- Flinn Traded to Steelheads; Attack Acquire Pair - Owen Sound Attack
- Hectic Summer for GM DeGray - Owen Sound Attack
- Spits Fall in OT on Opening Night - Windsor Spitfires
- Flint Shuts out Saginaw 3-0 in Historic OHL Season Opener - Flint Firebirds
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