Playoff-pumped Hounds say they’re ready to weather the Storm
by Peter Ruicci (Independent Media) | Photo by Bob Davies
Will the series come down to goaltending? Burying chances? How about sparkling defensive play?
Of course, playoff hockey isn’t necessarily pretty.
Sometimes a series can be like a painful slog through the mud, in order to see which team’s players emerge with less dirt on them.
So, what will the determining factor be in the Soo Greyhounds – Guelph Storm Western Conference quarter-final?
Well, despite all of the playoff analysis OHL coaches, players and fans can be consumed by, Hounds centre Rory Kerins has chosen to break things down to one basic truth.
“You’ve got to win a game,” said Kerins, a signed Calgary Flames prospect, choosing to offer a message he attributed to Flames’ head coach Darryl Sutter. “Win a game. It’s a simple mindset you need to have. Just win a game. Basically, you have to focus on just one game at a time, and that’s the perfect way for us to look at this series.”
Games 1 and 2 in the best-of-seven battle between the fourth-seeded Greyhounds (39-22-6-1) and fifth-ranked Storm (36-24-5-3) are set for Thursday and Saturday (both at 7:07 p.m.) at GFL Memorial Gardens.
Soo winger Tye Kartye, a signed Seattle Kraken prospect, also spoke of the Hounds narrowing their focus.
“We need to play a full and complete 60 minutes every game. That’ll be how we win,” added Kartye. “They’re a really-good team and we can’t be taking periods off against them. Consistency, effort and attention to detail will be important.”
When they step onto the ice on Thursday, the clash will mark the Greyhounds first playoff game in over three years. The Soo’s last playoff test was Apr. 14, 2019, when the Greyhounds lost 5-0 in Game 6 and were eliminated from the 2018-19 playoffs by the Saginaw Spirit.
The COVID-19 pandemic wiped out the end of the 2019-20 regular season and all of the playoffs, along with the entire 2020-2021 campaign.
“There’s a clear sense of excitement and purpose among our players,” said Hounds head coach John Dean. “Our older group has been here for three or four years and they’ve been waiting for this opportunity.”
So have the coaches, a group which includes Dean, associate coach Jordan Smith, assistant coach Jamie Tardif and goaltending coach Matt Smith.
“We’re similar to the players – this is what you prepare for,” Dean added. “In the playoffs, players show you they can really raise the bar and push past their regular limits. As a coaching staff, that’s fun to see and very rewarding.”
Dean also spoke of how players, coaches and staff members are “having a blast. There’s a buzz around the room as we all tug on the rope together.”
In the days leading up to Game 1, the Hounds coach has also spoken of how pleased he’s been with the club finding its identity in all three zones on the ice. The Hounds were 6-1-0-0 over their last seven games.
“We have a clear, definitive purpose,” Dean noted.
With 295 goals for, the Hounds offense finished third-best in the 20-team OHL. Guelph scored 251 times to place ninth overall. Defensively, the Storm surrendered 228 goals, fourth-best in the league.
The Hounds gave up 246, placing 11th.
As for head-to-head play, the Greyhounds have beaten the Storm four times in six meetings. The Soo was a 4-2 winner on two separate occasions at the Gardens, while also dropping a 4-1 decision at home.
Guelph was a 6-5 winner at Sleeman Centre, while also losing 9-4 and 7-2 while playing host to the Hounds.
“I think Guelph is a good team, but we’ve done well against them in the regular season,” said Hounds centre Bryce McConnell-Barker. “We know the series won’t be easy. But ultimately, it’ll come down to how we play. We need to play hard and play a simple game.”
Most importantly, McConnell-Barker spoke of the need for the Greyhounds “to stay above the puck and not give up too many odd-man rushes. And we’ll need to forecheck hard.”
Hounds defenceman Rob Calisti talked of how confident he and his teammates are.
“For sure we like our chances,” Calisti said, when asked if the Hounds were primed for playoff success. “We’re very prepared and guys are excited. We’re not really afraid of anyone.”
Following the first two games in the Sault, the series shifts to Guelph next week for Games 3-4 on Tuesday and Thursday. A fifth game, if needed, would be played Apr. 30 at GFL Memorial Gardens. Game 6, if required, is set for May 2 in Guelph, with a possible seventh-and-deciding game to be played on May 4 at the Gardens.
Notes:
Hounds winger Kalvyn Watson will miss the first two games of the Guelph series. Watson has been handed a three-game suspension by the OHL after drawing a match penalty for high-sticking in last Friday’s 6-3 victory in Flint. He missed Saturday’s regular season finale against the Firebirds and is slated to return to the lineup in time for Game 3 in Guelph.
Winger Jordan D’Intino, who’s been out of the lineup due to illness, is available for the series opener, although it’s not known whether the Greyhounds will elect to dress him.