OHL Soo Greyhounds

OHL 20 in 20: Soo Greyhounds

Published on September 24, 2014 under Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Soo Greyhounds News Release


The Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds earned their place in the spotlight last season with a West Division title, and know they won't be catching clubs off guard in 2014-15.

The Greyhounds are expected to return such a strong nucleus of veterans that perhaps their biggest change this season is in the front office.

Kyle Raftis, 28, accepted the role of Greyhounds General Manager in August. He was previously the Director of Recruitment, Player Development and Education Services at the OHL's head office. The opening was created when Kyle Dubas accepted the role of Assistant General Manager with the Toronto Maple Leafs this summer.

After a month on the job, Raftis likes what he's seen from his new team.

"It looks like a good group," he says. "It's been a very competitive camp. We kept the numbers pretty small (because) there weren't a lot of spots opening up, but it's been a really successful training camp."

The Greyhounds had quietly been putting together a very talented team over the last few years with Dubas at 'The Program's helm, featuring an impressive 14 NHL draftees since 2011 including four players chosen in Philadelphia this past June.

Equally impressive has been the Hounds' increased commitment to leadership, community, and education as evidenced by overage player turned pro Patrick Watling who earned the league's Top University Student award last season. One year earlier Edmonton Oilers first rounder Darnell Nurse won Scholastic Player of the Year honours while Los Angeles Kings prospect Colin Miller earned the Mickey Renaud Captain's Award in 2013.

"Me and Kyle have talked a lot, and it's not just the hockey side, it's player development, student-athletes, it's all-encompassing," Raftis says. "It's great to have the on-ice ability, but players have to be great in the community, they have to be great students. That's where they started developing 'The Program.'"

What the Greyhounds are trying to accomplish in Sault Ste. Marie isn't just about putting players into professional hockey - they want to produce well-rounded people who will succeed wherever life takes them.

"It opens up doors for guys, whether it's education or on-ice, it's trying to give them the best opportunity," Raftis says. "Most guys want to be NHLers, but you want to develop all aspects of their life."

A former OHL defenceman, Raftis can relate to today's hockey player even though the league and the game is in a constant state of flux.

"It's amazing to me, being not that far removed, how much the game has changed," he says. "It's constantly changing for the better. The opportunities that are there for players, the off-ice training, the nutrition, are leaps and bounds ahead of where they were when I was playing, and that's saying something. There's so many more opportunities around the league and so many teams are upping their programs. There's so many great programs across the league, and the OHL as a whole is progressing."

Raftis plans to use the relationships he has built through his on-ice and front office experiences in the OHL to build on what Dubas has created in Sault Ste. Marie.

"Being a player in this league, and working in this league, you get a good understanding of what players need, in terms of development, environment and education," Raftis says. "Building those relationships over the last couple years, you're constantly talking to people - hockey is a very small world - and you start to see a rhyme behind the reasoning, why certain organizations are successful, why certain players are able to make those steps quicker, and certain ways players can benefit."

The Hounds want to be one of those organizations to sustain success year after year and expect to contend with no shortage of talent returning to entertain fans at the Essar Centre this winter.

Sergey Tolchinsky, the electrifying Russian who was signed as a free agent by the Carolina Hurricanes after going undrafted in 2013, led the team in scoring with 91 points last season. He and Vancouver Canucks 2014 first round pick Jared McCann headline a group that helped the Hounds earn the West Division crown and a trip to the second round of the playoffs.

2014 NHL picks like goaltender Brandon Halverson (second round to New York Rangers), Michael Bunting (fourth round to Arizona Coyotes), and Kyle Jenkins (seventh round to Carolina), add to the club's depth and will all take on veteran roles this season.

The wildcard is the team's captain, Nurse, chosen seventh overall by the Oilers in 2013, who could return for a fourth - and final - season in the Hounds red and white.

Then there are the young up and comers learning from veteran example like 2013 first round Priority Selection pick Blake Speers, who registered 40 points in his debut OHL campaign.

"He obviously had a great rookie year, but we're hoping he can take another step forward," Raftis says.

The returning group will also be complemented by new pieces like 2014 top pick Anthony Salinitri, 19-year-old American forward Gabe Guertler, Zachary Senyshyn - who played four games with the club last season - and import pick Gustav Bouramman, a Swedish defenceman.

Perhaps the most important thing for Hounds fans to know about their new General Manager is that he subscribes to the theory of 'if it ain't broke, don't fix it' and trusts the blueprint instilled by Dubas and head coach Sheldon Keefe who returns for his second full season behind the bench.

"I don't like to make changes just to make change," Raftis says.

He also does not believe in old-school theories regarding size and toughness winning hockey games.

"I like guys that make plays," Raftis says. "I like smart hockey players who can skate - that's where the game has gone. Size isn't the end all, be all. You obviously want to have skilled teams, but the biggest thing for me is having a purpose. If you go out there with a purpose every shift, then at the end of the game you can be happy with your game. That's the team identity."

Raftis knows with all the attention on the Greyhounds these days, there is an expectation of success that must be met.

"There are some good pieces here," he says. "There's always room for improvement, and that's a daily thing with our coaches and development staff, but it's a good group. There's lots of work that needs to be done, but it looks like a group that is willing to put in the work."

Though he has only been in town a short while, Raftis can feel the buzz in the Soo.

"It's an exciting time," he says. "We're happy with where we are right now, but we're more excited about where we can be."

The Hounds begin the hunt Friday, September 26 when they host division rival Sarnia Sting.

ontariohockeyleague.com will feature one team each day in advance of the 2014-15 season which begins Wednesday September 24.

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The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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