Dates set, Hounds ‘fired up’ to face Spirit
by Peter Ruicci (Independent Media) | Photos by Bob Davies
When it comes to the 2024 Memorial Cup, the Soo Greyhounds would like nothing better than to be a big, heavy boulder smack in the middle of the Saginaw Spirit’s yellow brick road.
Saginaw is guaranteed a spot in the Canadian Hockey League championship tournament, but the Hounds are determined to see the Spirit advance as the host team only – and not as OHL champions.
That’s a role the Soo is determined to carve out for itself.
“Seeing this matchup happen, everyone is fired up, everyone is ready,” said defenceman Andrew Gibson, whose club will face the Spirit in the best-of-seven, Western Conference semifinals beginning Thursday and Saturday of next week (both at 7:05 p.m.) in Saginaw. “We were very disappointed we didn’t get the Memorial Cup bid. It’s been in the back of our minds all year.”
“I thought the Greyhounds should have gotten it,” added winger Justin Cloutier, who believes his team is superior and wants to prove it in this series. “Saginaw getting to play host has definitely added to the rivalry. Definitely, eliminating them and advancing ourselves is something we want to do.”
A long-anticipated matchup became reality on Thursday when London beat Flint 3-2 to eliminate the Firebirds in four straight. The Soo and Saginaw followed the same path on Wednesday.
The third-seeded Hounds beat Guelph 5-1 to complete a four-game sweep and the Spirit, seeded No. 2 in the conference, achieved a similar result with a 5-1 decision over Owen Sound.
“We were all banking on it,” Gibson said of winning the right to play host to the Memorial Cup. “I think we can take it to Saginaw and prove everyone wrong.”
Games 3-4 in the series are slated for Apr. 15, a Monday, and Apr. 17, a Wednesday, (both at 7:07 p.m.) at GFL Memorial Gardens. If a fifth contest is needed, it would be played at the Dow Event Centre on Apr. 19 (7:05 p.m.). Game 6, if necessary, is slated for Apr. 21 (7:07 p.m.) in the Sault.
And should the series go the distance, the deciding clash is scheduled for Apr. 23 (7:05 p.m.) in Saginaw.
The teams split eight regular season games with the road club, in a rare occurrence, winning all eight.
The Spirit finished first in the West Division, putting together a 50-16-1-1 mark. That was seven points ahead of the 45-18-3-2 Greyhounds.
Defensively, both clubs surrendered 215 goals, with Saginaw holding the offensive edge, 303-286.
“We think we’re playing a good brand of hockey right now, but I still think there’s a lot of room for us to be better,” said Hounds head coach John Dean, who gave his players Thursday off and also kept them off the ice on Friday.
“We’re playing the definition of playoff hockey right now,” added Gibson. “We’re playing very loud both physically and emotionally and I think that’s our game.”
Cloutier agreed, while also stressing the fact he and his teammates will take nothing for granted.
Asked about facing the Spirit, Dean spoke of how “it’s what we expected. It’s another team we have to get through.”
Questioned about his thoughts on Saginaw, the Soo’s bench boss called his opponent “a good hockey team, obviously. They’ve built themselves for a run this season, as have we. They’ve got a very good offensive team and it’s going to be a great series in my opinion.”
The coach also talked about how Guelph’s physical play and hard work has prepared his team well for Round 2.
As for what he liked most about the Soo’s performance against the Storm, Dean noted the way his club recovered from its miscues.
“We know we’re going to make mistakes,” he added. “But our ability to bend and not break was a key. We had a ton of second-effort hockey in that series.
Asked about his sidelined players, Dean said wingers Jack Beck and Travis Hayes remain day-to-day with upper-body injuries.
Beck, the team’s leading scorer in the regular season, has missed nearly four straight games after being injured midway through the first period in Game 1 against Guelph.
He was on the receiving end of a check to the head delivered by the Storm’s Max Namestnikov.
Will the overage standout be back in time for Game 1 of the Saginaw series?
“I have no idea,” Dean said.