Disappointing start to season for Greyhounds

Getting out-worked is something no team wants to happen and for the Soo Greyhounds, it was something that cost them a hockey game.

As they opened the Ontario Hockey League season on Wednesday night with a 5-2 loss on the road against the Saginaw Spirit.

It was the opening day of the OHL regular season and it was a disappointing way to start the year.

“You’re always disappointed and we would have liked a little more push-back, said Greyhounds Coach John Dean. “At the same time, it’s game one and when we get back we’ll look at the game tape and learn from our mistakes and build for Friday night.”

Goaltender Tyler Johnson had a busy night, stopping 38 shots for the Greyhounds

“He was fantastic,” Dean said of the overage netminder. “He kept us in the game. During the TV timeouts, he was really positive at the bench. He was exceptional. The score could have been worse, especially after the first period.”

The Spirit jumped out to a 1-0 lead through 20 minutes before carrying the play through the second period to take the lead after the Greyhounds got on the board and added a pair of goals in the final period to seal the win.

“Our first 10 minutes were a little bit slow but when we got heavy on the battles, we started to win the battles and have a little more success,” said Saginaw Coach Troy Smith in an interview with the Spirit television broadcast.

The Spirit overcame what Smith said were some early nerves and would outshoot the Greyhounds 20-4 in the second period and take a 3-1 lead through 40 minutes en route to the win.

“We had some nerves early on and full credit to the Greyhounds because they really came at us,” Smith said. “The second period was our best period and in the third period we were pretty good as well.”

“We didn’t play with any emotion or energy,” said Greyhounds forward Morgan Frost.

“A hungry team came out for the second period and the hungry team wasn’t us,” Dean said. “We got outworked in the second period and their compete-level was high.”

Rookie defenceman Ryan O’Rourke and sophomore defenceman Holden Wale scored for the Greyhounds.

Rookie forward Cole Perfetti paced the Spirit with a pair of goals in the contest while Albert Michnac had a goal and two assists. Mason Millman and Aidan Preuter also scored for Saginaw.

Goaltender Cameron Lamour got the start for the Spirit and made 23 saves.

“He’s really matured,” Smith said of Lamour. “Over the summer he put on some weight and did everything we asked of him. From the start of camp, he’s done exactly what he did tonight. When there’s a breakdown, which there’s going to be at this time of year, he really bailed us out with some big saves.”

The Greyhounds return to action on Friday night. The team will open the home portion of its schedule with a home game against the Sarnia Sting. Puck drop at the GFL Memorial Gardens is set for 7:07 p.m.