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OHL Soo Greyhounds

Hounds Speedy in Victory over Eastern Conference Leading

November 20, 2015 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Soo Greyhounds News Release


SAULT STE. MARIE, ON- With confidence comes victories and the competitive edge needed to compete and beat the best of the Ontario Hockey League.

And on Friday Night, the Hounds responded quickly after the Kingston Frontenacs tied the game in the third and edged them in a 2-1 final.

"Ya, and physicality I thought we matched them too. I thought we used our speed, got pucks behind their D (defence), made their D turn as much as possible" began Hounds Head Coach Drew Bannister when asked how big of a win it was for his team, against a big, physical Kingston squad.

"I thought our speed was a difference, we were always moving our feet. Again our compete level was really high tonight kind of indicative how it was last weekend. And of course just the consistency over the 60 minutes" he added.

Combining for 20 shots (11 Soo, 9 Kingston) and erasing the other's poweplay opportunities, the Hounds and Frontenacs blanked the first period of the game with big saves coming at both ends of the ice.

HAYDEN VERBEEK circled the Kingston net with around 8:20 remaining in the period and set-up TIM GETTINGER who was foiled by the glove hand of Lucas Peressini.

Later, and after MEDRIC MERCIER broke up an odd-man rush against, it was BRANDON HALVERSON's moment to match the task.

The Greyhound netminder got the pad stop against Jared Steege before later gloving down a shot by Juho Lammikko in the scoreless frame before turning aside 25 of the 26 shots he faced on the night.

The Hounds killed off an early shorthanded opportunity in the second, and later were stopped on their three man advantages staying with the tone of the night as the two teams combined to go 0-for-10 on the power play.

With 7:40 left in the second period the Hounds would take the lead that would send them into the dressing room leading 1-0 after forty minutes.

ZACH SENYSHYN scooped up the puck in his own zone and burst out in speed. Facing two Kingston defenders, Senyshyn would slip the pucks through the legs of Stephen Desrocher and take it in tight before making a move and going glove side on Peressini in a highlight reel goal and the lead.

For Senyshyn it was his 11th goal of the season, thus taking the lead in the goal department for the Hounds.

Kingston would pull even 2:05 into the third period when Jared Steege capitalized on a turnover and even the game at 1-1.

That lead lasted just 34 seconds, as on the next shift MAKAR TOKAREV wasted little time and released a quick shot from the goalies left regaining the Hounds lead, now 2-1.

Kingston would have a power play with nearly exactly two minutes left in regulation, but had it cut short just over a minute in when the Frontenacs were assessed a minor of their own.

In the final minute, the Frontenacs would pull their goalie but active sticks and key blocks by the Hounds erased the Kingston advantage (5-on-4) as they held on to their 9th win of the season while gaining points in three consecutive games.

"I think so, but we're a different team than we were at the beginning of the year. The details to our game and the way the kids are playing it right is pretty good. We are starting to understand what we need to do and how we need to play. Certainly our veteran players are leading the way" said Bannister when asked if it was his team's best win at home this year.

The victory improved the Hounds record to 9 wins, 9 losses and 3 overtime losses, good for 21 points and sole possession of third in the West Division.

"He's (Crouse) a big heavy forward. Lammikko and all those guys are big guys, credit to our guys.

We used our speed to our advantage where we could get back. We got on loose pucks and exited our zone quick. We didn't give them a lot of chance to get into a forecheck" concluded Bannister".

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