Mignosa’s long wait finally over
by Peter Ruicci (Independent Media) | Photo by Bob Davies
The thought of returning to live action has Marco Mignosa prowling like a ravenous dog.
“I’m super hungry to get back in the lineup. I’m starving,” said the Soo Greyhounds 19-year-old (2005 birth year) winger, who has yet to play in a game this season. “It’s been super difficult watching my teammates put in the work every day and then play a game. It’s sucked to watch and not be a part of it.”
All the Hounds have been willing to confirm is Mignosa, the team’s top returning scorer, has been sidelined with a non-Covid illness.
But after skating in a full-contact practice Tuesday morning, the Vaughan, Ont., native is slated to suit up for Wednesday’s 7:07 p.m. home start against the Saginaw Spirit (6-3-1-0).
In Mignosa’s absence, the team has won four of its last five, improving to 5-5-0-0 after a 0-3 start.
“We’ve been really good lately,” said the nearly six-foot, 170-pounder, who posted a 22-31-53 stat line, with a plus-minus of plus-19, in 57 games a season ago. “I just want to give it my all and help the team get better.”
A standout when it comes to creating scoring chances for those he plays with, Mignosa drew praise from John Dean following Tuesday’s workout.
“We’ve missed his poise with the puck and attention to detail,” said the Hounds head coach, whose club is also slated to entertain Ottawa at 7:07 p.m. on Friday. “He’s probably one of the best playmakers in the league.”
The Soo has scored just once on the power play this season, a key factor in the Hounds lack of overall offensive production. Through its first 10 games, the club has managed just 26 goals in either regulation or overtime.
“We’re struggling to find the back of the net,” said Dean. “Miggy is very creative in the offensive zone and he makes excellent plays under stress.”
Mignosa rejoins the active list at a time when the Hounds are also welcoming overage centre Owen Allard and 19-year-old (2005 birth year) winger Noel Nordh. Both arrived Monday after spending time with the American Hockey League’s Tucson Roadrunners, top affiliate of the NHL’s Utah Hockey Club.
Both Allard, who will begin his fourth season with the Hounds, and Nordh, a first-round selection in the 2022 CHL Import Draft, who has spent most of his developmental time in his native Sweden, practiced with the club on Tuesday.
Dean lauded the performances of all three skaters.
“Allie looked like Allie, full of energy and excited to see the group,” the coach began. “Miggy looks as if he hasn’t missed a beat, although understandably, he’s not in game shape. Nordh showcased his talent, intelligence, poise and his shot. But we have to remember he’s with a new team in a new environment getting used to the North American game.”
While Mignosa and Allard are set to play on Wednesday, as of Tuesday afternoon the Hounds were still waiting for the completion of international paperwork before Nordh is cleared to suit up. There’s a chance the club may not know until game time Wednesday whether the native of Soderhamn, Sweden, is eligible to compete.
Allard’s addition gives the team four overages, one more than can dress for a game. The others are netminder Charlie Schenkel, defenceman Caeden Carlisle and forward Justin DeZoete.
“We’ll let it play itself out over the next week or so,” Dean said. “We’ll sit down and talk about it as a group and cross that bridge when we have to in the near future.”
Meantime, Allard and Mignosa worked effectively as linemates a season ago. Dean was asked for his thoughts on playing the three together.
“No brainer,” he answered. “Allard and Nordh have some familiarity playing with Utah and Tucson. I think there’s a great opportunity to put the three of them together.”
Mignosa would love that opportunity, but all things considered, he’s just happy to be back.
“The worst part of this was when I was told I had to follow a six-week protocol in order to return. Hearing that was pretty devastating,” he admitted. “At first, I was just encouraged to rest and then, once I started to feel better, I got back on the bike. But I got lucky. This could have taken way longer.”
The last time the Soo faced Saginaw, the Hounds came away with a 3-2 victory at the Dow Event Center.
When asked for his thoughts on the matchup, Dean spoke of the importance of getting pucks behind the Spirit defence on Wednesday and managing the puck well offensively.
While the additions to the lineup are certainly welcomed, the Hounds will be minus Carlisle, their captain, for the next two games and centre Brady Smith for longer.
Carlisle begins serving a two-game, league-imposed suspension on Wednesday. That’s as a result of the overage defenceman being assessed a five-minute major for checking from behind in Sunday’s 5-4 shootout win over Sarnia.
Smith, in his rookie campaign, is expected to be out two-to-four weeks after suffering an upper body injury during the overtime portion of that contest.
Winger Sam Bowness and defenceman Brodie McConnell-Barker remain on the shelf with lower-body injuries.
Notes:
Centre Brady Martin was chosen on Tuesday to compete for the CHL in the 2024 CHL-USA Prospects Challenge. Games are set for Nov. 26 in London and the following night in Oshawa.
Draft-eligible prospects from the CHL will face members of USA Hockey’s National under-18 team.
