67’s play host to Greyhounds
After hosting Connor McDavid’s old squad in the Erie Otters on Friday night, the Ottawa 67’s (14-19-3-5) are primed for a meeting with Wayne Gretzky’s junior club on Sunday, the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (17-24-1-0). Puck drop inside The Arena at TD Place is at 2 p.m. Tickets are still available here.
Everything you need to know about your visit to TD Place can be found here. The game can be seen on Rogers TV and CHLTV, and you can hear Kenny Walls’ call on 580 CFRA.
With the infirmary beginning to fill up for the Barber Poles, an opportunity is knocking for the squad’s youth, according to Head Coach Dave Cameron. Without some key bodies in the lineup, they’ll look to earn their first win of 2025 on Sunday.
On Friday night, they fell to the Otters 4-1, with Erie scoring a pair of empty-net goals in the game’s final minutes. Since returning from his stint at the World Juniors, Luca Pinelli has scored a pair of goals in three games for the 67’s.
The Greyhounds currently hang onto the Western Conference’s eighth and final playoff spot, but following the trade deadline, their roster looks a little bit different. They dealt Andrew Gibson to the Oshawa Generals, and now have both Brady T Smith and Brady R Smith on the team, wearing numbers 11 and 12 respectively, and playing on the same line at points.
Sunday marks the return of Charlie Hilton to Ottawa, who the 67’s dealt to the Greyhounds in exchange for a fifth-round pick in 2027 back in October. In 34 games in the Soo, the 18-year-old has seven points, including a pair of goals.
In their only other meeting of the season, the Greyhounds got the better of the Barber Poles, securing a 3-2 win. Matthew Mayich and Zach Houben got the markers for Ottawa.
By the numbers
Ottawa 67’s | Player | Total |
Goals | Luca Pinelli | 23 |
Assists | Cooper Foster | 24 |
Points | Cooper Foster, Luca Pinelli | 39 |
Power play goals | Luca Pinelli | 13 |
+/- | Brad Horner, Shaan Kingwell | +1 |
Soo Greyhounds | Player | Total |
Goals | Justin Cloutier | 21 |
Assists | Marco Mignosa | 23 |
Points | Marco Mignosa | 40 |
Power play goals | Brady Martin | 6 |
+/- | Brady Martin | +9 |
Keys to the game
- No confusion
Brady and Smith are common names for the Soo, but the 67’s need to have their assignments straight in all areas of the game.
- In net
67’s netminders have been rock solid this season, so when the Barber Poles need a big save, they can count on their goalie to be there.
- Next man up
With so many bodies out of the lineup, the chance is there for people to step up and fill some gaps. Who will it be?