Raftis ready to make moves
by Peter Ruicci (Independent Media)
While his team prepares to begin the final three months of the OHL regular season, Kyle Raftis is readying himself for what is likely to be a pivotal next two weeks.
With the trade deadline fast approaching, the Soo Greyhounds general manager plans to be busy.
“We’re in a situation where I definitely want to look to improve the team. I would expect to” make a trade or two, said Raftis, whose club carries a 22-8-2-1 record into a Thursday clash with the Saginaw Spirit (20-9-0-1).
In the first game for both clubs following the Christmas break, start time is 7:05 p.m. at Dow Event Center.
“We’re deep on defence and all four lines contribute,” added Raftis, who also spoke of how various players have contributed to success on both the penalty-kill and power-play units. “If you can bring in game-breakers, that’s great. But at the same time, I want someone who can play up and down the lineup for us.”
However, on a team that has relied heavily on work ethic, togetherness and character, it’s highly likely a deal will only become reality if those acquired match the Hounds approach.
The league’s trade deadline is Jan. 9 at 12 noon for overages and the following day at noon for all others. A trade embargo, in place for those competing at the world junior championships, lifts on Jan. 6.
“So much of our success has come from our chemistry and depth,” said Raftis. “We want to be very wary of what type of people we bring in. There has to be a fit. There’s obviously a certain style and standard this team has held itself to.”
The GM went on to explain how, along with being a fit in the dressing room, anyone acquired must be proficient when it comes to playing with pace, while excelling both on the forecheck and backcheck.
“Those are things we’re doing so well that have put us in this situation,” he said of the club leading the West Division by six points over the second-place Spirit. “I think we have to be careful in respecting that.”
Saginaw has three games in hand on the Greyhounds. The teams are also slated to square off on Sunday (2:07 p.m.) in the Sault. Before that, the Greyhounds are set to play host to Sudbury on Saturday at 7:07 p.m. Also on Saturday, the Spirit is scheduled to entertain Windsor.
As they head into Saginaw, injuries continue to be a problem for the Hounds. On Wednesday, head coach John Dean spoke of how centre Bryce McConnell-Barker is “more than likely not in (the lineup) this weekend.”
The Greyhounds captain suffered a concussion, the result of a hit to the head by London’s Sawyer Boulton on Dec. 10 at GFL Memorial Gardens. Boulton is serving a 10-game, league-imposed suspension.
As well, winger Jordan D’Intino, who has been idle since suffering an upper-body injury in a Nov. 29 tilt in Saginaw, is considered day-to-day, the coach added.
Aside from injuries, both teams will be without two key players who’re competing at the world juniors in Sweden.
The Hounds are minus centre Owen Allard (Team Canada) and defenceman Arttu Karki (Team Finland). Saginaw will skate without centre Matyas Sapovaliv (Team Czechia) and defenceman Rodwin Dionicio (Team Switzerland).
Asked about the keys going into Saginaw, Dean used three words.
“Fundamentals, simplicity, foundation,” said the coach, whose club finished the first half of the season on a 6-0-0-1 run.
Saginaw is set to enter Thursday’s contest on a four-game winning streak.
“We have to keep our game simple,” Dean added. “Be very structured and sound defensively and don’t over-complicate things.”
Facing the prospect of missing multiple key players, the coach also spoke of how his team “can’t give Saginaw any freebies. We have to make them earn everything and I’m sure they’ll try to do the same with us.”
