Pride plays ‘big role’ in Hounds victory
by Peter Ruicci (Independent Media) | Photo by Alex Martin
GAME HIGHLIGHTS | OHL GAME CENTRE
They arrived quickly and powerfully, like a tropical storm rolling over a beach.
The Soo Greyhounds scored twice in the first five minutes Saturday, and led 4-0 by the 10:47 mark of the opening period.
The result, on a night when the Hounds notched three power-play markers, was a 6-2 victory over the Flint Firebirds in front of 3,639 at Dort Financial Center.
“The start was huge. The players had to make a statement for each other and I absolutely think pride played a big role tonight,” said head coach John Dean, whose team was coming off of consecutive humbling performances, losing 5-1 to London last Wednesday at home, and 4-0 in Kitchener on Friday. “We had back-to-back disappointing efforts and when you lack confidence, a fast start can really boost it.”
“The last two games were kind of embarrassing,” added veteran winger Marco Mignosa, whose four assists helped the Soo improve to 10-8-0-0 with its third consecutive victory over the Firebirds this season. “The coaches and players had a good chat after lunch today and it was very productive. They reminded us to do whatever you can to help the team, no matter your role. That helped get us the fast start.’
Centre Brady Martin, who was outstanding for the winners with two goals and two assists, spoke of how the Hounds needed to let people know what they’re made of.
“After two rough games in a row, we had to show we aren’t that kind of team,” added Martin, whose club returns home to face Erie on Wednesday (7:07 p.m.) at GFL Memorial Gardens. “We needed to play to our identity and it feels great to show the type of team we are. It’s a step in the right direction.”
Dean explained how he expected such a response from his charges. He called it “appropriate,” while adding “this is exactly what they should have done.”
The Greyhounds beat Flint 2-1 at GFL Memorial Gardens on Oct. 18 and 4-0 in Flint exactly one week ago. On that night, they were 3-for-3 with the man advantage. Saturday, the Soo scored on three of seven power-play chances. That’s six power-play goals at the Dort in two games.
Overall, the Soo has just 10 power-play goals on the season.
“That’s twice the powerplay has been challenged the night before we played in Flint,” Dean chuckled. “That first unit for us is an exceptional group. Once they are a little more deliberate in their approach, we’ll be very successful.”
It took just 42 seconds for the visitors to get on the board on Saturday. Martin gobbled up a turnover in the Firebirds zone, fed Justin Cloutier who quickly found Travis Hayes in the slot. The second-year winger fired a one-timer that beat netminder Nathan Day on the glove side.
Just under four-minutes later, Flint again lost control in its own zone. David Holub picked up a Mignosa rebound and let fly from just above the left circle. Through traffic, the puck eluded Day on the blocker side and it was 2-0.
Cloutier notched his ninth goal of the season and the Hounds first power-play marker at 7:17. The veteran winger backhanded home the rebound of a Noel Nordh scoring attempt and the Soo led by three.
Before the contest was 11-minutes old, Cloutier won a face-off on a 5-on-3 powerplay. Nordh found Martin on the left side and the second-year centre ripped a one-timer which beat Day high to the glove side.
It also brought an end to the night for the Flint goalie, replaced at that point by Noah Bender.
Before the opening period ended, Flint got a power-play goal on a redirection by Blake Smith at 15:26, and an even-strength marker by Kaden Pitre, who beat Charlie Schenkel less than two-minutes later.
But the Greyhounds responded in the second period. Martin, at 8:11, redirected a Caeden Carlisle shot past Bender. And four minutes later, Nordh’s one-timer, on the power play, made it 6-2.
Nordh finished with a goal and two assists while Hayes and Cloutier had a goal and an assist each. With the loss, the Firebirds fell to 7-9-0-1.
On a night when Flint held a 31-27 edge in shots, Dean thought Schenkel may have been fighting the puck a little early in the game. Overall, the coach thought the overage “was excellent.”
Following the clash with Erie, the Soo is set to entertain Flint on Friday (7:07 p.m.) and Windsor on Sunday (2:07 p.m.).
Notes:
The Hounds skated a player short on Saturday as centre Christopher Brown and winger Charlie Hilton were out with upper-body injuries suffered in the Kitchener game. Both will be checked by team doctors in the Sault but the coach didn’t believe either injury was serious. Centre Owen Allard (upper body) didn’t make the trip and forwards Brady Smith and Sam Bowness remain sidelined. To fill in up front, Dean used rearguards Brodie McConnell-Barker and Brayden Velliaris as forwards.
