OHL Soo Greyhounds

Hounds Open Season with Victory over Sting

Published on September 27, 2014 under Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Soo Greyhounds News Release


SAULT STE. MARIE, ON- The season started with a victory, and will no doubt be a stepping stone for the 2014-15 Soo Greyhounds. But the path in which the team achieved it varied throughout the contest.

"I'm not going to take away too much from it (the game), but it was clear as we expected, there is a lot of things to do to get better. We looked like a team that hadn't played very much together. The fact that we had three practices this week as a group showed. I didn't like our game" began Head Coach Sheldon Keefe.

The Hounds started quickly scoring twice before the game was two minutes old against the Sarnia Sting, and they would go on to hold a 4-0 lead through the opening period.

"It changes so much. I thought we were the second best team on the ice today. But, I didn't watch the video, but there is a lot to take away from it. When you get that kind of start it changes the game plan, changes players' mindset, changes a lot of things in the game" explained Keefe.

The first two shots the Hounds fired on Sting netminder Justin Fazio would find the back of the net.

SERGEY TOLCHINSKY set-up a one-timer from COLTON WHITE at the left of the goal just thirty-seven seconds into the game to get the Greyounds scoring going.

For White, the goal was his first-career Ontario Hockey League goal.

Just forty-one seconds later DAVID MILLER finished off a set-up by BLAKE SPEERS to increase the lead to a pair of goals.

That duo, along with linemate MICHAEL BUNTING totalled seven points on the night.

After killing off back-to-back penalties the Hounds increased their lead.

First BLAKE SPEERS wrister at 4:47 and then SERGEY TOLCHINSKY capitalized on a turnover at 13:37 to make the take the 4-0 lead into the dressing room after twenty-minutes.

Tolchinsky's goal came as a Sarnia penalty had just expired.

The quick goals for the home side continued into the second period.

MICHAEL BUNTING scored the first Hounds' powerplay goal of the game just seventeen seconds into the period on a feed from MILLER and SPEERS to make it five nothing.

The visiting Sting got on the board twice in under three minutes shortly thereafter.

Patrick White's shot from the blueline was deflected and then an awkward looking play was deposited into the empty net of BRANDON HALVERSON to cut the Hounds lead.

Despite those two goals against, Keefe spoke positively about his netminder's play on opening night.

"I thought he was really good. He got unlucky on the first two goals. The first one is a deflection, the second one I know he looks bad but when you go back and watch the video, he makes the play and our defenseman runs into him and he can't get back to the net. And the player he's making the play to turns his back and doesn't see the play" described Keefe.

The Hounds lone overeager in the lineup, BRYAN MOORE, would notch the Hounds fifth goal of the game after SERGEY TOLCHINSKY broke around the Sting defence and send a backpass to set-up the play.

Moore would contribute again late in the period appearing to fake a shot before passing to GABE GUERTLER for his 1st career OHL tally at 14:04.

Hounds lead 7-2 through two periods.

Sarnia would score the final goal of the game in the second half of the third period after Nikita Korostelev stripped a Hound, took the puck to the net, and his backhand beat Halverson to cap off the game in a 7 to 3 final.

The Greyhounds speed, skill and game-breaking ability came to the forefront in the victory despite many other factors the team will review.

"I thought that was one thing. Our guys put the puck away with some pretty good authority on the chances we did get. We didn't make any mistake on them. We know we have that kind of skill and ability. It was their (Sarnia's) first game too, and a lot of that stuff is going to tighten up and things won't come that easy" began Keefe.

"There was a five minute segment of the third period (at the start period), up until we took a penalty I really liked our game and did a lot of things we wanted to do. That was really the only part of the game I liked" he concluded.

The Hounds return to action tomorrow (Saturday) night when the Niagara IceDogs make their lone regular season visit to town.

Game time is set for 7:07 p.m. at the Essar Centre.

Tickets are available, and go on-sale at 10 a.m. Saturday morning at the Box Office, online at www.essarcentre.ca or by phone at 1.866.775.9422.

BRANDON HALVERSON is expected to make his second consecutive start between the pipes for the Hounds.

ATTENDANCE - 4,526

RED STAR THREE STARS

1- SSM, #14 Bryan Moore

2- SSM, #18 Blake Speers

3- SSM, #51 Kyle Jenkins

NOTES- * Tim Gettinger left the game Saturday with an injury and is expected to miss Saturday's contest

* The Soo Greyhounds would like to thank the Downtown Association and everyone who participated in the "Street Party" prior to the on-ice events tonight

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Ontario Hockey League Stories from September 27, 2014


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