Greyhounds celebrate ‘big character win’
by Peter Ruicci (Independent Media) | Photo by Bob Davies
FULL PHOTO GALLERY | GAME HIGHLIGHTS
Unlike fishing, in the OHL you never throw the little ones back.
In the standings, tight, one-goal victories are as good as six-goal blowouts.
The Soo Greyhounds improved their record in clashes determined by a single goal to 4-1-0-0 on Sunday, outlasting the Sarnia Sting 5-4 in a shootout in front of 3,458 at GFL Memorial Gardens.
Second-year netminder Landon Miller stopped all three Sarnia shootout attempts, while Justin Cloutier was the lone Soo shooter to beat Sting goalie Nick Surzycia.
“This feels unbelievable. We really needed this and wanted it,” said rookie winger Carson Andrew, who, along with Travis Hayes, contributed a goal and an assist. “This is a big character win.”
“I think this is the first game this season where all 20 guys contributed,” added head coach John Dean, whose team won its fourth in five starts, improving to 5-5-0-0- heading into Wednesday’s 7:07 p.m. home start against Saginaw. “We saw lots of grit and lots of character from our guys, up and down the lineup.”
Dean also spoke of how he “really loved our O-zone play and how we got pucks to the net.”
Trailing 4-3 late in the third, David Holub got the Hounds even with his second goal of the season.
The first-year defenceman took a backhand pass from Brady Martin, and fired a shot from the blue-line through traffic. It managed to trickle through Surzycia’s five-hole at the 15:43 mark.
After a white-knuckle ride in overtime, fans saw Cloutier, on the home side’s third shootout attempt, beat Surzycia on the glove-side. At the other end of the ice, Miller’s pad save on Sarnia’s Beckham Edwards wrapped it up.
Scoring in that situation “felt great,” said Cloutier, who discussed his shootout options with Sunday’s backup goalie, Charlie Schenkel, before skating to centre ice.
In an exchange between Ottawa natives, Cloutier said he asked Schenkel if he should “do the move.”
The overage netminder said yes, but “make sure you go in slowly.”
With that in mind, Cloutier did skate in slowly, went wide to the left side, “and went backhand-forehand, before going glove side,” he explained.
A strong performance in a winning effort was particularly satisfying for Miller, a Barrie native, who had struggled in his first two starts.
“It’s good to get some confidence back and get the ball rolling again,” said the Detroit Red Wings prospect, who had uncharacteristically surrendered seven goals on 18 shots in his first two starts. “I love the pressure of the shootout and that’s a good win to build off of.”
The six-foot-five, 203-pounder, who posted a 2.79 goals against average as a rookie, was asked what led to his early-season struggles.
Miller blamed his mental focus, saying he needed to learn to “stay present in the moment. I know I have the talent.”
He also admitted it was “definitely frustrating” sitting out and watching Schenkel start the previous six games.
“But he earned it,” Miller added.
“I’m super happy for Miller,” Cloutier said. “He’s a great goalie who works his butt off.”
With the score tied 3-3 in the third, Sarnia took the lead when James Barr beat Miller low to the blocker side from the right circle.
The goal came at the 8:44 mark.
Trailing 3-2 in the second period, Sarnia took advantage of a 5-on-3 power play to tie the contest.
Caeden Carlisle was whistled for checking from behind at 11:58, getting a five-minute major and game misconduct. He also faces the possibility of supplemental punishment from the OHL.
Three minutes later, Andrew Gibson was sent off for interference to give the visitors a two-man advantage. Just 30 seconds after that, Edwards slid the puck to Lukas Fischer, who fired a one-timer from the slot. He beat Miller up high to tie the game 3-3.
Asked about Carlisle’s penalty, Dean said it “wasn’t a good penalty for us,” but blamed himself saying his captain was fatigued. “I’m going to wear this one.”
Dean went on to explain how, the fact he’s playing his two veteran defencemen so much, led to the Carlisle major.
Meantime, down 2-1 in the second period, the Hounds used a 63-second span to take the lead.
Hayes, with a rocket from the right face-off dot, tied the game at 6:58. His shot was perfectly placed, high to blocker side of Surzycia’s blocker side.
At 8:01, Charlie Hilton capped a slick, three-way passing play with linemates Erik Muxlow and Brady Smith.
Andrew opened the scoring for the Greyhounds, just 26-seconds into the contest.
Defensive miscues led to Sarnia goals by Carter Kostuch and Easton Wainright.
Muxlow finished with a pair of assists for the winners, who were outshot 36-31. Fischer had a goal and an assist in defeat, as the Sting fell to 5-2-1-3.
“The Soo played super hard tonight,” said Sting bench boss Al Letang. “It was a good hockey game. All in all, I’m pretty happy with how the game went for us.”
“To start the season 0-3 and to be back to .500 by Game 10, it’s a great little journey we’ve been on over the last seven games,” Dean said. “We bent a little bit today, but we didn’t break.”
The coach also called the trio of Hilton, Smith and Muxlow “arguably our best line.”
When asked, Dean also said he thought rookie defenceman Hunter Solomon’s play was “fantastic. He continues to grow exponentially.”
Notes:
Though it’s not a sure thing, the Hounds expect winger Marco Mignosa (illness) to play for the first time this season on Wednesday. Winger Sam Bowness remains day to day with a lower-body injury while rearguard Brodie McConnell-Barker remains sidelined, also with a lower-body injury.
