Bantam Hounds score big with league awards

The Soo Bantam Greyhounds continue to clean up -- this time the Northern Ontario Bantam Hockey League awards.

The Greyhounds, in the midst of their NOBHL semi-final series against North Bay, claimed all but two awards, which were announced this week.

Dean Howard claimed two awards as the league's top scorer and league's most valuable player. In 32 games, Howard scored 31 goals and added 49 assists for 80 points, 17 points ahead of teammate Brett Perlini.

Justin Hogsden captured the award for top goaltender. In 18 games, Hogsden posted a minuscule 1.17 goals against average. Meanwhile, teammate Greg McAllister posted a 1.36 GAA in 16 games.

Perlini, who scored 28 times and added 35 assists, was not shutout of the awards as the forward captured the most sportsmanlike player award.

Meanwhile, head coach Dominic DeLuca Jr. captured the coach of the year honours.

The team was also honoured as the league's regular season champions after posting an incredible record of 32-1-1 while setting 17 new records in the process.

In playoff action, the Greyhounds will take a 2-0 lead into game three of the NOBHL best-of-five semi-final against the North Bay Athletics in North Bay this weekend.

Game three is scheduled for Saturday night while a fourth game, if necessary, is slated for Sunday morning. A fifth game, if required, is scheduled for Tuesday at the John Rhodes Centre at 7:30 p.m.

The Hounds took the series lead with 6-1 victory in game one followed by 7-3 game two win over the weekend at the Rankin Arena.

In game one, Jacob Chiblow paced the Greyhounds attack with a goal and two assists while Howard, Kevin Closs and Luke O'Brien scored a goal and added an assist each. Kyle Jean and Mike Rivard also scored while Zachary Larue and Geoff Gieni each recorded two assists. Hogsden recorded the win in goal.

In the second game, Dylan King scored twice and added an assist while Anthony Colizza, Chiblow and Jerry Petingalo added a goal and an assist each. Single goals went to Rivard and O'Brien while Closs recorded a pair of helpers. McAllister picked up the win.

In the league's other semi-final, Sudbury Lockerby Confectionary leads the Onaping Falls Huskies 2-0.