Hounds need overtime to nip Petes

The Soo Greyhounds needed an overtime period to finish the job on Thursday night.

Leading 3-1 heading into the third period, the Greyhounds failed to ice a victory and surrendered two goals in the period to send the game into an extra frame.

But Tyler Kennedy emerged as the game hero with a goal in the overtime period to give the Greyhounds a 4-3 Ontario Hockey League win over the Peterborough Petes.

The goal, his 10th of the season, was Kennedy's second of the night.

With the win, the Greyhounds improve to 14-9-1-1 and hold top spot in the OHL's West Division, three points up on the Sarnia Sting and the Plymouth Whalers. The team also holds the Western Conference lead with the Guelph Storm with 30 points each.

The Greyhounds grabbed an early 2-0 lead as Scott Dobben and Matt Puntureri scored before Jon Howse cut the lead in half for the Petes in the first period. Kennedy's first goal gave the Hounds the 3-1 lead after two periods.

Despite the performance of Greyhounds' goaltender Jakub Cech, who was named the game's first star after stopping 34 of 37 shots, the Petes tied the game on goals by Jamie Tardif on the power play and Michael Tuomi in the final period.

The Greyhounds continue their lengthy four-game road trip on Saturday in Belleville beginning at 7:15 p.m. The Hounds then move on to Ottawa for a 2 p.m. start on Sunday before concluding the trip in Sudbury on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m.

In other OHL action on Thursday, Sault native Craig Kennedy scored a short handed goal and an empty netter to lead the Windsor Spitfires past the Saginaw Spirit 4-2. Belleville and Barrie skated to a 2-2 tie.

*** SOO FLAVOUR AT UNDER 17:

The Sault will be well represented on Team Ontario as the Under 17 Team selected its squad, which will compete at the World Hockey Challenge Dec. 26- Jan. 4 in St. John's, Newfoundland, on Thursday.

Soo Greyhounds centre Chris Lawrence has been selected along with goaltending prospect Kyle Gajewski, who nearly made the team out of training camp, from the Chatam Maroons Jr. B's.

Team Ontario will be coached by Sault native and former Soo Greyhounds player and assistant coach Bob Jones, who currently works as an assistant under Dave Cameron with the Toronto St. Michael's Majors.

Also complimenting the team staff if Sault resident John Mayne, who will serve as the team's Sports Therapist/Trainer.

*** THUNDERBIRDS:

In a battle of the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League elite on Wednesday night, the Soo Thunderbirds squandered a 3-1 third period lead and fell 4-3 to the Sudbury Northern Wolves in the Nickel City.

D.J. Jelitto, Andrew Jakubaitis and Kelly Thomson scored for the Thunderbirds while Mike MacMillan recorded a pair of assists.