Hounds leaders aim to be better
by Peter Ruicci (Independent Media) | Photo courtesy of Bob Davies
Honesty is one of the things Justin Cloutier says he likes about John Dean.
“There’s no bullshit with him,” Cloutier, the fourth-year winger, said of the Soo Greyhounds head coach. “I respect that.”
Cloutier, one of the Hounds alternate captains, was reacting when asked his opinion after the club’s leadership group was ripped publicly by Dean on Saturday.
The coach’s criticism followed a breakdown in discipline which led directly to a 6-3 loss to the Sudbury Wolves at GFL Memorial Gardens.
“I’m disgusted. The lack of leadership on this hockey club is absolutely amazing to me,” Dean said following the setback. “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, a lack of care factor.”
“It was appropriate based on what happened. It was something that needed to be said,” Cloutier added. “He (Dean) is a straight-shooter.”
Dean was critical of third period penalties taken by alternate captains Andrew Gibson (minor and misconduct) and Brady Martin (minor), and captain Caeden Carlisle (minor). The Gibson and Martin penalties led to a pair of power-play goals for the Wolves just 1:09 apart.
“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.”
“It was accurate. I feel like we deserved it – definitely,” said Carlisle, whose club hit the road on Wednesday for a three-game trip which begins Thursday in Windsor (7:05 p.m.). “Leadership was very poor in that game with the undisciplined penalties.”
“Spot on,” Gibson said of the criticism leveled at the Hounds veterans. “He (Dean) is right. We all have to step it up and especially the leadership group. Taking on the role we have is something special. We can’t take it lightly.”
Gibson went on to explain how the Greyhounds captains “have to prove to the team and prove to the city that we’re worthy of wearing (a letter).”
The Soo’s other alternate captain, Marco Mignosa, missed the game due to illness.
Asked if he was disappointed in himself for the penalties he took, Gibson answered yes.
Questioned as to what led to the collapse, the veteran rearguard spoke of how it’s “hard to explain. Our emotions got the better of us.”
“We have a lot of new guys on our team and it’s not good for them to see that,” Carlisle added.
Cloutier, who scored twice, including once shorthanded, was the only captain not criticized by the coach. Instead, Dean praised him, saying the veteran winger was the only skater who played hard, while managing to avoid the penalty box.
Reached on Wednesday afternoon, Dean was asked if he had any regrets following his post-game outburst.
“None at all. It needed to be said,” answered Dean, whose club also visits Guelph on Friday (7:07 p.m.) and Sarnia on Sunday (2:05 p.m.). “I thought that stated the obvious and was appropriate. When something needs to be called out, that’s leadership on my part.”
Players had Sunday off before practicing on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.
“Their reaction has been fantastic,” Dean said. “I respect them. I think we have a great leadership group and Monday’s practice was exceptional and extremely competitive.”
Asked about this road trip, the Soo coach talked of how there’s still a lot of teaching to be done and how, to him, the identity of this week’s opponents isn’t significant.
The Spits carry a 2-0-1-0 record into Thursday’s clash with the 0-2-0-0 Greyhounds.
Guelph was 2-0-0-0 heading into Thursday’s action while Sarnia was 1-1-0-0.
“Our goals are irrelevant to who our opponent is,” Dean added. “We clearly don’t have a distinct identity yet.”
Pressed on the Spitfires makeup, the Soo coach talked of how “it’s obvious up front Windsor is building to win. They arguably have one of the best forward groups in the league. They have a very good coach and they want to finish as high as possible in the standings.”
The Spits are coached by Greg Walters.
Dean went on to stress the importance of the Hounds matching Windsor’s pace and competitiveness.
Asked about the keys to a successful trip, Carlisle discussed how he and his teammates “need to be more disciplined in our structure, play a full 60 minutes and compete harder.”
“The older guys are definitely going to have to step up,” added Gibson. “As players, we have to run through a wall for each other.”
Notes:
Mignosa remains out with a non-Covid illness. Dean says it’s not serious, but the veteran was not well enough to make the trip.
Defenceman Brodie McConnell-Barker has started skating on his own, but is still a few weeks away after suffering a lower-body injury in the first exhibition game.
“A lot of other guys aren’t feeling their best,” Dean added. “A bug has been going through our team for two weeks, but everyone else managed to make the trip.”
