Reid getting antsy, Mignosa avoids suspension
by Peter Ruicci (Independent Media)
Defenceman Chase Reid can sum up his experience over the last six weeks in two words: “This sucks.”
The Soo Greyhounds still-sidelined standout, also discussed how the process of trying to work his way back from an upper-body injury has been “frustrating” and “disappointing.”
A highly-touted prospect expected to be taken within the first few selections of June’s 2026 NHL Entry Draft, Reid was hurt after colliding with an opponent on Feb. 1 in Brantford.
At the time, Hounds general manager Kyle Raftis told Independent Media the injury didn’t appear to be as serious as it could have been. As per their team policy, the club refuses to divulge any further information.
But though the 18-year-old (2007 birth year) continues to make progress – “I’m getting better every day,” he said on Wednesday – Reid is “unlikely to play” this week, according to head coach John Dean.
The Greyhounds (37-19-1-5) departed Wednesday for a two-game trip that takes them to Windsor (40-15-5-2) for a 7:05 p.m. Thursday start, and to Flint (41-15-4-2) for a 7 p.m. face-off on Friday.
As part of this difficult stretch, the Soo then returns home to take on Brantford (44-9-7-2, tops in the OHL’s overall standings) at 2:07 p.m. on Sunday.
The Greyhounds have six regular season games remaining.
Of note, Hounds leading scorer Marco Mignosa (31-49-80) will continue to be in the lineup. The OHL has ruled the overage winger deserves no supplemental punishment, after being whistled for a five-minute, high-sticking match penalty in last Saturday’s 2-0 victory in Guelph.
“I’m very anxious to start playing,” said Reid, who has missed 14 games. “It’s very hard sitting out, but you have to do what you have to do. I’m just trying to make sure I’m 100 per cent so I can start playing again.”
During Reid’s absence, the Soo has gone 8-4-0-2.
Both the Greyhounds and the player say there will definitely be no comeback until the Chesterfield, Mich., native is back to 100 per cent.
Reid, who has a stat line of 18-29-47, along with a plus-minus of plus-30 in 42 games, says he’s very close.
“I’m skating and I can tell I’ve definitely made a lot of progress,” he said. “I’m travelling with the team, I watch the games and between periods, if the boys want to know how they’ve played, I give it to them straight.”
Watching is far from enjoyable. Reid said he’s never endured this kind of an experience.
“I’ve never had to sit out in hockey in my life,” added the six-foot-two, 190-pounder. “I’ve never gone through anything this difficult before.”
Has it made him stronger mentally?
“Definitely,” Reid said. “This is part of what every athlete has to go through. Being an alternate captain on the team, I still have to be a leader and bring energy to the locker room.”
Asked if he’ll return to the lineup before the regular season ends on March 22, Reid said: “That is the plan, yes. I just want to help my team win.”
Dean admits the star bluer-liner is a difficult man to replace. Lukas Fischer, in particular, has taken on a huge role in Reid’s absence.
But while employing a next-man-up approach, the Greyhounds coach said there’s little talk around the team of when the second-year man will be back.
Meantime, after watching video of the Guelph game, Dean touched on several of the topics that have stuck in his craw of late.
“We still have execution issues that are really costing us and then there’s our pace of play. We want to play a faster brand of hockey,” the coach explained. “We need better execution on this trip, play faster and be more connected. I really want to see a connected group playing with pace.”
While the Soo is mathematically still in the race to catch second-place Flint and/or third-place Windsor in the Western Conference, odds are very-heavily stacked against them.
However, sitting in fourth place, good for home ice in at least the first round of the playoffs, the Soo is just a single point up on fifth-place London (37-21-4-1). The Hounds do have a game in hand.
Dean admitted the Greyhounds watch the standings – “It would be ridiculous to pretend that we don’t,” he said – while noting the importance of gaining home ice.
“We’d have to be crazy not to want it. But none of us are talking about it,” he added. “But at the same time, our priority is to make sure we’re entering playoffs playing a good brand of hockey. And we have some work to do in that department.”
Windsor, minus offensive standout Ethan Belchetz (broken collarbone), remains a team that is difficult to generate chances against.
“One of the best defensive teams in the league and really well-coached,” Dean said of the Spits and their bench boss, Greg Walters. “You don’t generate anything for free against them.”
Notes:
Winger Colin Fitzgerald remains week-to-week with an upper-body injury. Defenceman Brodie McConnell-Barker (illness) also remains out.
