RECAP; Dickinson injury outweighs OT win
by Peter Ruicci (Independent Media) | Photo by Bob Davies
The jubilation which typically follows a hard-fought victory was markedly absent from the Soo Greyhounds dressing room on Saturday.
The Hounds defeated the Barrie Colts 4-3 in overtime at GFL Memorial Gardens, but the Hounds focus lay more with injured teammate Tanner Dickinson.
After giving up the tying goal in the final second of regulation, the Hounds won it on Rory Kerins’s second goal of the game at :46 of overtime.
However, midway through the third period of what was a 2-2 tie at that point, Dickinson left the ice on a stretcher after suffering what looked to be a serious injury to his right leg or ankle.
Saturday’s victory was “not even bittersweet. It’s bitter,” said Hounds’ head coach John Dean, who needed several moments to compose himself after beginning an interview session with local media. “All I can think about is Tanner right now.”
As they raced for the puck, Barrie’s Ethan Cardwell shoved Dickinson from behind. The Hounds’ centre collided with Colts’ defenceman Connor Punnett and tumbled into the boards behind the Barrie goal. Travelling at a considerable rate of speed, the Perrysburg, Ohio, native appeared to hit the boards knee first.
At the 8:32 mark, Greyhounds’ athletic therapist Julian Cooper tended to Dickinson, emergency protocol was initiated, and the talented St. Louis Blues prospect was taken by ambulance to Sault Area Hospital. He was accompanied by Greyhounds general manager Kyle Raftis.
After the game, Dean said he was on his way to hospital and had received little information about the scope of Dickinson’s injury. But, when asked, he did speak of how “the way it went down, I’m assuming it’s not good.”
Colts’ head coach and general manager Marty Williamson talked about the concern felt by Cardwell, who was handed a five-minute major and game misconduct for boarding, Punnett and the entire Barrie organization.
“We feel horrible. He’s a young star in our league and you don’t like to see anything happen to players like that,” Williamson added. “This is just a bad situation.”
The Colts’ bench was closest to where Dickinson went down and Williamson said he could tell right away the situation was serious.
“I saw him look at his leg and it was like he knew something was really wrong,” Williamson continued. “Something was not moving properly. It didn’t look good.”
Kerins, who finished with two goals and an assist, also said he assumes the injury is serious.
“This situation sucks. Dickie is such a big part of our team,” said Kerins, who took a feed from Tye Kartye in overtime and fired a shot that beat Colts’ goalie Mack Guzda through the five-hole. “Dickie is such a big part of our team. It’s terrible.”
Kerins boosted his stat line to 25-42-67, tops in the league scoring race.
Captain Ryan O’Rourke also talked about how their teammate’s injury status is of the greatest concern to the Greyhounds players.
“More important than getting a win, definitely,” said O’Rourke, who wasted little time converting on the five-minute Soo power play.
The veteran defenceman put his team up 3-2 after getting a slick pass from Kalvyn Watson at 9:03 of the final period.
“I’m just hoping for the best,” added O’Rourke, who also contributed an assist. “My thoughts go out to Tanner and his family. Every member of the organization is thinking about him.”
Jack Thompson, with his first goal in a Greyhounds’ uniform, had the other marker for the winners. Kartye contributed three assists.
With the visitors trailing 3-2 and Guzda on the bench for a sixth attacker, Brandt Clark tied the game with .9 seconds left in regulation.
He beat a sprawling Samuel Ivanov, who was solid, though not as busy as Guzda. The Soo held a 34-26 edge in shots.
Ivanov made a brilliant, diving glove save, robbing Barrie’s Oliver Smith with the score tied 2-2 late in the second period.
Clarke finished with a goal and an assist while Cardwell, on the power play, and Hunter Haight completed the Barrie scoring. Nathan Allensen added three assists.
Dean spoke of how proud he was of his players for overcoming Dickinson’s injury, the lengthy delay which followed, and the fact they were scored upon late in regulation.
“We didn’t have a great game tonight (Saturday). It wasn’t a work of art,” the coach added. “But for our guys to figure it out was pretty special.”
“That was a hard game to get through,” added Kerins. “We were a little emotional after Dickinson’s injury and Deaner was also a little emotional.”
Saying he was happy with his team’s game, Williamson sounded satisfied to get out with a point. The Colts own a 20-9-4-0 mark.
With a 23-12-3-1 record, the Hounds must be considered a legitimate Western Conference and Ontario Hockey League contender.
However, the 19-year-old Dickinson has established himself as an important part of the team. He’s third in club scoring (tied for 14thin the OHL) with an 18-29-47 stat line, and also owns a team-best, plus-minus of plus-18 in 35 games.
And while his absence for an extended period would be difficult to overcome, that was the last thing the Hounds were thinking of.
“Sometimes you’re worried about wins and losses and then you realize this game is about people,” said Dean, whose club is set to begin a four-game trip on Thursday in North Bay.
Notes:
Hounds winger Cole MacKay, who was taken to hospital after blocking a shot on Friday missed the game with a lower body injury.
MacKay is listed as day to day.