Over the last 24 hours, we saw the worst output of the season if you are a Hounds fan. The Windsor Spitfires from the second period on made it look like the Hounds were skating with ankle weights.

Too many turnovers and an inability to get to the net resulted in a drubbing of 10-4 by the visitors.

As a reader mentioned to me; the problem he sees and I agree is that our D are too often leading the rush as if they were forwards and end up way to far in the offensive zone; quite often behind the visitors net.

This results in our forwards racing back and playing a defensive position that they are not trained for. I found that observation by John C very acute.

Without getting into too much about the game as quite frankly we all would like to forget it, there were really only a couple of kids that came to play.

The rest?; What was going on?

I don’t know if they were arrogant as they are the top scoring team in the league and figure that at any time they can come back from behind, but whatever it is it needs to be addressed.

I really like John Dean as I have spoken to him on a few occasions and I like his coaching style, but I have to tell you that this team if it were under the tutelage of say….. Sheldon Keefe; the boys would have ended the night with a 30 minute “bag skate”.

UPDATE FROM YESTERDAYS PREGAME SUMMARY

I wrote yesterday that I thought Marco Mignosa would be out of the lineup and suspended for a game as he was involved in a fight and it looks like he instigated it as I looked quickly at the game summary. Well, to my defense, I looked again and it is a bit confusing. O’Flaherty did indeed get suspended two game but if you look at the copy and paste I did from the OHL website game summary it is confusing as it shows that (unless that acronym means something else) Marco also instigated it. How can two guys be the instigator ? lol. Anyway; this is why I got it wrong and I always try and update and correct things when I post them in error. I also checked with Hockey Canada and sure enough INST. is the abbreviation for instigator. Below is the reason for the confusion.

Moving on the good news.

HOUNDS TRADES

Kyle Raftis after the game last night acquired Sudbury Wolves D man Jack Thompson. I felt all year that this would be an area that if a trade were to be made; logically the backend could use some help.

We had to give up some really good players in Marc Boudreau and Jacob Holmes, but it is a win situation for them as they will get more minutes playing on a struggling Wolves team.

In a couple of smaller deals, the Hounds have also acquired left winger Ty Anselmini from the Mississauga Steelheads and Keegan McMullen from the Peterborough Petes.

JACK THOMPSON

“Jack is the high-caliber player we were looking to add to our lineup – both for what he brings to a program on the ice, and off. Jack brings another elite element to our blueline and we can’t wait to get started working with him” commented Raftis.

Thompson, who was originally selected in the 2nd Round of the 2018 OHL Priority Selection by Sudbury is currently in his fourth season with the Wolves and was serving as the team’s Captain.

In 144 career games played, he has compiled 27 goals and 44 assists (71 points) in 144 career games played.

One season ago, the Courtice ON product appeared in 18 games for Surahammars IF of the Swedish Hockey League where he had 9 goals and 9 assists.  He also appeared in one game for the AHL’s Syracuse Crunch.

A 3rd Round Selection of the NHL’s Tampa Bay Lightning in the 2020 NHL Draft, the 6.01, 185 lb defender signed a 3-year entry level contract with the club this past May.

TY ANSELMINI

“We feel that Ty will be a a good fit in our group. As a competitive player that wants to make an impact on every shift, we anticipate this move to not only benefit our program, but Ty as well as we move into the second half of the season’ stated Raftis.

Anselmini was originally selected in the 3rd Round of the 2019 OHL Priority Selection by the London Knights.
This season in Mississauga he appeared in 15 games played where the Guelph ON product has 1 goal and 1 assist.

Let’s Welcome both of these kids with a standing ovation from our living rooms when the Hounds hit the ice this coming weekend against. Owen Sound.

KEEGAN McMULLEN

“We’re excited to be able to add Keegan to our group. He is a tireless worker and is a constant competitor. He will provide our lineup a lot of flexibility and be a great leader amongst both our younger and older players moving forward” stated Raftis.  

Originally selected in the 15th Round of the 2018 OHL Priority Selection by the Petes, McMullen is in his 3rd season in the OHL.
In 70 career regular season games played he has 7 goals and 12 assists.

Named an Alternate Captain with the Petes this year, Keegan is a second cousin to former Greyhounds Coach (1979/80-1984/85) Terry Crisp.

Go Hounds Go