Island Market Owners Meeting With New Owners Next Week For Lunch/Greyhounds Confused When “Race Gun” Goes Off

Andrew Gibson

The Soo Greyhounds were dazed and confused when the gun went off and the gates swung open to start the 2022-23 regular season against the North Bay Battalion last night. During the first twenty minutes the Hounds went down 3-0 and couldn’t muster anything despite enjoying a two man advantage and a four minute power play. The Dogs couldn’t produce anything of offence and went into the dressing room to regroup.

Whatever the coaching staff said during the intermission certainly worked as the kids played a really good second period, but were still unable to put one past the North Bay netminder. It took the Hounds, who didn’t score during their last game, (exhibition) 45 minutes and one second to get on the board, when D man Andrew Gibson put one past the North Bay goalie with a shot from the point. An empty netter sealed the Hounds fate and that was as close as the Hounds came and dropped the first game of the season. 

It looks like scoring and offense are going to be something that will challenge the team early in the season. With that being said there were a few good takeaways to extract from the contest. Of surprise is that rookie defenseman Andrew Gibson provided more offensive swagger from the point than the forwards did. He ended the game with his marker in the third, four shots on goal,and an all around great debut from the rookie defenseman.

Connor Clattenburg who got the games 3rd star played a good game as well and it looked like he was looking to drop the mits on more than a few occassions; he seemed pretty jacked up for his first regular season game and may be the new version of last years Ty Anselmini with his aggresive passion. 

Kirill Kudryavstev added some great poise in front of goalie Charlie Schenkel and Charlie also played a really steady game after giving up 3 goals in the opening frame. 

I am hoping John Dean goes back to Schenkel as to get the kids used to knowing who their number one goalie is going to be. Last year it was back and forth and back and forth until Tynan (Tucker) came in; in my opinion a goalie needs the confidence to know he is who the team and coach are going to count on. It settles both goalies down as they are not on pins and needles thinking that if they don’t play a great game they are going to sit the next one. 

I think Sammy (Ivanov) is a good goaltender as well but I am leaning on Schenkel at this point as I think he deserved a better fate than being demoted last year. Just my opinion. 

Anyway the Hounds suit up again against the same Battalion tonight at 7:07 at the Memorial Gardens in the Soo. 

Go Hounds Go !!