Dean blasts ‘zero leadership’ Greyhounds
by Peter Ruicci (Independent Media) | Photo by Bob Davies
Like a bubbling volcano, John Dean erupted on Saturday.
And very few wearing red and white were safe from the verbal lava that spewed forth.
“I’m disgusted. The lack of leadership on this hockey club is absolutely amazing to me,” said Dean, who admitted this was the angriest he’s been since becoming the Soo Greyhounds head coach in 2018. “We just named what we thought was a quality leadership group, but we had zero leadership throughout that game. Zero. That was a lack of disciple, lack of care factor. I’m disgusted to be honest.”
Typically a dealer in positive thought, there was none of that from Dean following a 6-3 loss to the Sudbury Wolves in front of 3,966 at GFL Memorial Gardens.
A 3-2 lead midway through the final period unraveled like a cheap sweater after Hounds players beat a steady path to the penalty box.
The Wolves scored back-to-back power-play goals 1:09 apart to go up 4-3.
Hounds’ miscues led to a pair of empty-net goals to cap the scoring, dropping the Soo to 0-2 before beginning a road in Windsor on Thursday.
“Every guy with a letter on their jersey was in the box, talking to the referees, taking stupid penalties, forcing us to shorten our bench for the PK,” Dean continued. “It’s utterly embarrassing. I’ve never been so disappointed in a hockey club.”
The home side’s collapse began at 10:04 of the final frame when Andrew Gibson was whistled for an interference minor. While sitting in the box, Gibson picked up a 10-minute misconduct 15 seconds later.
That’s when Brady Martin was sent off for roughing.
With a 5-on-3 power play, Wolves defenceman Nick DeAngelis beat Charlie Schenkel low to the glove side to tie the game 3-3 at 10:57.
Up a man, the Wolves connected again at 12:06 when a deflected shot went to Kieran Walton in the right circle. He had much of the net to shoot at and made it 4-3.
Hounds’ winger Sam Bowness was sent off for elbowing at 14:10 before Chase Coughlan and Blake Clayton added late empty-net markers. Sudbury evened its record at 1-1
Asked which penalty bothered him most, Dean said: “Gibson, Martin, (Caeden) Carlisle – pick one. They were all egregious.”
Carlisle took a pair of minors, including one early in the third.
“The players, they need to wear this,” Dean continued. “This is a lack of discipline, a lack of character. It’s me before we. I’m very upset.”
The vast majority of Hounds players left the dressing room quickly – like sailors on a three-day pass.
An obviously upset Gibson politely refused an interview request.
Schenkel, the only other player in sight, spoke of how disappointed he was.
“We gave the game away,” said the overage. “We have to be better.”
Wolves first-year head coach Scott Barney spoke of how disciplined his players were, while noting “last year, that might have been us in the box. We were a little undisciplined last season. Our guys were tired tonight, but everybody dug in.”
Justin Cloutier scored a key, short-handed marker, part of a two-goal night.
Rookie Erik Muxlow, on a nice individual effort, had the other goal for the Hounds, who were outshot 31-24, including 14-2 in the final frame.
Rookie rearguard David Holub contributed two assists.
“Cloutier was phenomenal. He was the only guy with a letter on his jersey who stepped up to the plate,” Dean said. “He knows how to play hard without taking penalties and he scored two big goals.”
Lucas Giantommaso and DiAngelis, on the power play, had the first two Sudbury goals.
Dean promised Saturday’s collapse would make for “a teaching opportunity” next week.
