Hounds prep for ‘most-important’ stretch
by Peter Ruicci (Independent Media) | Photo by Bob Davies
When it comes to challenges – and opportunities – it doesn’t get much clearer than this.
In a torrid fight for a Western Conference playoff spot, and with just 13 regular season games remaining, the Soo Greyhounds play their next seven games on home ice.
That includes head-to-head contests this weekend against their two biggest challengers.
The eighth-place Hounds (21-32-1-1) play host to 10th-place Guelph (17-28-4-3) on Friday at 7:07 p.m. and ninth-place Owen Sound (18-29-4-3) on Sunday at 2:07 p.m.
The Storm is three points back of the Hounds, but with three games in hand.
Going into the Attack’s road game in Barrie on Thursday, Owen Sound is one point back of the Soo, but has one game in hand.
“This is 100 per cent the most-important time of the year for us. This stretch is critical,” said rookie winger Jordan Charron. “These upcoming games could decide whether we make the playoffs or not.”
“We’re really excited to have this opportunity,” added veteran winger Justin Cloutier. “It’s there. It’s ours to take. But it’s also ours to lose.”
That sums up the significance of the Greyhounds situation.
“But we’re 100 per cent a confident group,” Cloutier continued. “I’ve seen our team play some great games when we play our style of hockey. We plan to outwork both Guelph and Owen Sound and win the 50-50 pucks.”
Because of the time remaining in the regular season and the opponent, John Dean agreed Friday’s game is the Soo’s biggest to date this season.
“This is a team right behind us, fighting for a playoff spot.”
The Hounds head coach also spoke of how Monday’s 8-6 loss in Brantford showed his club’s “never-say-die attitude.”
Playing an OHL powerhouse, a team that improved to 16-1-1-0 over its last 18 starts, the Greyhounds erased a 6-3, third-period deficit.
Despite getting outshot 44-33, the Bulldogs scored the winner with 1:24 left in regulation, following a turnover by rookie netminder Noah Tegelaar. Brantford added a late empty-net goal.
“Obviously, it was a tough pill to swallow, the way it ended,” Dean said of the Monday setback. “But our brand of hockey is currently in a good place.”
“Our mentality in the Brantford game was “no-quit and have a great care factor,” added Charron.
The Soo plans to carry that approach forward – but especially into Friday’s clash with Guelph and Sunday’s match with Owen Sound.
“We want these games very badly,” said Cloutier. “This is our chance to move up in the standings. They’re huge, huge games for us.”
Asked what his team needs to show the rest of the season – but especially this weekend – Dean spoke of “consistency within our brand of hockey and our ability to manage the puck.”
He lamented how this young team has too often “found ways to shoot ourselves in the foot. We deviate too often from our structure.”
Dean called Guelph a difficult opponent.
“They’re very well-structured and extremely hard-working,” the Soo coach began. “They’re really willing to deny at their own blue-line and force you to make errors.”
The Attack, the Soo coach said, has the ability to be in every game it plays.
“And they have a couple of hot sticks over there,” Dean said of former Greyhound Landon Hookey (29-32-61) and Pierce Mbuyi (23-17-40).
After this weekend, the Hounds continue a busy stretch when they entertain North Bay on Tuesday, Sudbury on Wednesday, and Brampton on Friday. All are 7:07 p.m. starts.
The homestand continues on March 7 against Barrie and March 8 with Oshawa in town.
“Over this seven-game stretch, our intention is to play a very predictable and fast brand of hockey,” said Dean, whose team will be at home for nine of its final 13 games.
Asked what he’s seen from his players this week, the coach talked of how eager the Greyhounds seem to be.
“There is excitement in our room, but also we’re very aware of the magnitude of these games and the quality of hockey we’re going to have to play.”
Notes:
While injuries have been a constant impediment this season, the Soo will get some good news on Friday. Centre Christopher Brown, who has played in just 20 games this season, returns from an upper-body injury.
First-string goalie Nolan Lalonde (lower body) and overage centre Owen Allard (upper body) remain day-to-day with injuries.
