Additions make Greyhounds a different team
by Peter Ruicci (Independent Media) | Photo courtesy of Natalie Shaver (OHLImages)
After an 0-3 start, the Soo Greyhounds were already rebounding when, on Oct. 21, the club’s fortunes changed dramatically.
That afternoon, 19-year-old (2005 birth year) Swedish winger Noel Nordh flew into town, having just been reassigned by the NHL’s Utah Hockey Club. Hours later, overage Owen Allard returned to the only OHL team he’d ever known, also reassigned by Utah.
Meantime, plans were already in the works that day for 19-year-old (2005) winger Marco Mignosa to make his season debut after missing the first 10 games due to a non-Covid illness.
Since the three-man cavalry arrived, the Greyhounds are 4-1-0-0, having defeated West Division rivals Windsor, Saginaw and Flint. They’re now, arguably, a going concern for every team they face.
“They’ve made a significant difference, for sure,” said head coach John Dean, whose team carries a 9-6-0-0 mark into Wednesday’s 7:07 p.m. home start against London.
While first pointing out how strong the team’s netminding has been this season, Dean went on to note how “the addition of those three has given us an opportunity to breathe. They’ve brought swagger and poise to our team and set a great example for our other guys. And they’re all working like dogs.”
Beyond that, the addition of three older players has allowed the Hounds younger, inexperienced forwards to “slot in properly,” Dean added. “They can now play against opponents of similar talent levels and experience.”
On Oct. 23, Mignosa and Allard suited up while Nordh, taken by the Soo in the first round (No. 44 overall) of the 2022 CHL Import Draft, was still waiting for his International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) transfer to be approved.
Mignosa scored once and set up two others while Allard contributed a goal and an assist in a 5-3 win over visiting Saginaw. Nordh made his debut two days later, notching a goal and two assists to pace the Hounds to another win at home, this time they stopped Ottawa 3-2.
Through five games, Mignosa has a 5-6-11 stat line with a plus-minus of plus-5.
On Monday, the Vaughan, Ont., native was named the OHL’s player of the week for the period ending Nov. 3.
Also through five games, Allard has three goals and four assists to go along with a plus-5.
And Nordh, in four games, has posted a 2-5-7 and a plus-5.
“Your best coaches are your experienced players, I can talk until I’m blue in the face,” Dean said. “But when skilled veteran players lead by example and find success doing it within our structure, it’s a lot easier to coach the younger guys.”
Asked about each member of the troika, Dean spoke of how Mignosa looks so mature this season and has displayed poise and pace of play with, and without, the puck.
“He knows when to be assertive and when to be under control,” the coach added. “His skill level is off the charts and he has a killer instinct with the puck.”
When it comes to Allard, who recently signed with Utah, Dean talked about the overage working to make sure his puck touches are more efficient and simplified.
“He wants to under-handle the puck, make good plays and then use his speed,” the coach added.
Nordh, a native of Soderhamn, Sweden, plays a very professional style of game, Dean noted.
“He’s brought a ton of poise with the puck,” the Soo coach said of the highly-skilled winger. “He works hard over 200 feet and it’s nice to point out to our younger players just how hard our best players work.”
The Soo’s newest additions have also helped the power play – at least in Saturday’s 4-0 victory in Flint. The Soo scored three times with the man advantage – Noel and Allard scored once each with the man advantage while Mignosa assisted on all three power-play goals. Justin Cloutier had the other PP marker.
Going into that game, the Soo was 4-for-47 with the man advantage this season.
“We anticipate moving forward, they’re going to have a massive impact on our power play,” Dean predicted.
The Hounds dropped a 4-3 loss in London last Friday, but there were several aspects of their game their bench boss liked.
The powerplay, however, was not one of them. Down a goal, the Soo had the man advantage with 3:59 left in regulation, but failed to register a shot on goal.
Asked what the Knights (10-4-0-0) do particularly well, Dean talked of how they play a structured game for 60 minutes, are physical and tenacious in front of the opposition net.
“And they’ve got a ton of talent,” the coach added.
Meantime, centre Brady Martin, who sat out the Flint game as a precaution with an upper body injury, practiced Monday. He’s expected to play against London.
Martin (5-7-12) and Cloutier (7-5-12) are tied for the team scoring lead.
Following the London clash, the Soo hits the road for games Friday in Kitchener and Saturday in Flint. Both are 7 p.m. starts.
