OHL Soo Greyhounds

Raaymakers Rock Solid in Victory in Barrie

Published on December 18, 2015 under Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Soo Greyhounds News Release


BARRIE, ON- As the Soo Greyhounds engaged in a run-and-gun game with the Barrie Colts on Thursday, they would rely upon netminder JOSEPH RAAYMAKERS to make 42 saves on 43 shots while backstopping them to the win.

"Raay (Joseph Raaymakers) was fantastic throughout the whole game. In the first 10 minutes we carried a lot of the play and then they started to push and Raay made some real good saves throughout the game" began Head Coach Drew Bannister.

"There was one late in the third period where it got redirected with two or less minutes left, and he was able to adjust and get a pad on it. It was quite a big save" he continued.

The Greyhounds came out of the gates strong in the first portion of the first period, especially in the opening two-and-half minutes where Barrie failed to get into the Hounds zone.

Barrie looked to take an offensive step with just under ten minutes to play when Justin Scott stripped the Hounds defence before going in alone on Raaymakerswas, who would make the stop.

The two teams skated scoreless through the first period.

Raaymakers would be relied upon again midway through the second period when Cordell James gained a step on the left wing. After the initial save, the Hounds netminder would swipe the puck away negating any more Barrie chances.

The Hounds had a chance go south later when the three-way passing play between BOBBY MACINTYRE, BORIS KATCHOUK and HAYDEN VERBEEK was redirected wide with the Hounds centreman just getting a piece of the puck while mid-stride.

Barrie would open the scoring with ten seconds remaining in the second period.

Off a draw, the puck came back to Rasmus Andersson who's shot was screened by bodies in front, before going high and over the right arm of Raaymakers for the 1-0 Colts lead.

Raaymakers was peppered with twenty shots in the period.

"For me, technically he just looked really calm in the net. There wasn't a lot of rebounds, he was really aggressive and out challenging the shooters. To me, he looked the most confident that I've seen him all year" commented Bannister when asked if that was as well Raaymakers has played all year.

Minutes into the third period (2:57) the Hounds would reward their goaltender and pull even.

MAC HOLLOWELL would take the initial shot that was tipped further by JACK KOPACKA before being finished off by TIM GETTINGER.

The North Olmsted, OH product who was returning to the Hounds line-up after missing the last four games injured, would spin and fire around a man covering him and beat Davdi Ovsjannikov low to tie the game at 1-1.

After allowing just two shots against through the opening thirteen minutes in the third, a big chance against late in the third would keep the Hounds on even terms.

With under three minutes to play, Raaymakers put the pad on a redirection by the Colts leading scorer Kevin Labanc, forcing the game to overtime.

The Hounds and Colts had a single shot each in overtime while the game extended to a shootout.

With the team's tied through the first three Barrie shooters the game would be left on the stick of GUSTAV BOURAMMAN. A goal, game over, while a save would extend the game further.

The rearguard would work his way in slowly before firing a shot over the glove hand of Ovsjannikov and the Hounds skated to the 2-1 victory.

The win was the Hounds third in as many tries in a shootout, and improved their record to 15-14-3-0 on the season good for 33 points.

ATTENDANCE - 3,409

RED STAR THREE STARS OF THE GAME

1-Gustav Bouramman, SSM

2-Joseph Raaymakers, SSM

3-Rasmus Andersson, BAR

To view the complete game summary CLICK HERE.

UP NEXT;

The Hounds skate into Game 33 of the season, and their final before the Christmas break TOMORROW - Friday, December 18 - at the Kitchener Rangers.

Game time is set for 7:30 p.m.

Fans can tune into the action beginning with the Bay Mills Resort & Casinos pre-game show on Rock 101 (101.3 FM, www.rock101.net) beginning at 7:00 p.m, and simulcast on Country 105 (105.5)




Ontario Hockey League Stories from December 18, 2015


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