Hounds win Gardens' regular season finale (4 photos)

Some historic moments have taken place at Memorial Gardens over the years.

From the 1984-85 team going 33-0 on home ice, to Rick Kowalsky raising the Memorial Cup high over his head, many fans will have fond memories of this rink.

Sunday, March 19, 2006 will certainly be a remembered day as well as the Greyhounds played the final regular season game at the old barn, which will be replaced by the new Sports and Entertainment Centre on the same site.

The game ended in fine fashion as well, as the Greyhounds defeated the Sarnia Sting 5-1 to cap off the 2005-06 regular season.

Facing a depleted Sting lineup, the Greyhounds peppered Sating goaltender Parker VanBuskirk with 50 shots, while only giving up 12 on Kyle Gajewski at the other end.

In front of a crowd of over 3,900, and following the national anthem, which was performed by Constable Lyndon Slewidge, the Greyhounds opened the scoring just 2:07 in when Dustin Jeffrey scored his 18 goal of the season. Ryan Kitchen then scored just over five minutes later to increase the lead.

A power play goal by Kitchen at 7:39 of the second period gave the Hounds a three-goal cushion to work with. At 15:25, rookie Josh Moes scored his second goal of the season to send the game into the third period with the Hounds up 4-0.

Cody Thornton then scored shorthanded midway through the period to give the Greyhounds some insurance. Richard Clune broke the shutout bid late, but it was the Greyhounds night as the 5-1 lead help up as the final buzzer went, ending the regular season.

"I think our kids wanted to make sure that we played a really good game for the last game of the regular season," said Hounds coach Craig Hartsburg. "I think what made it harder was as soon as we seen the lineup, it's hard. I've played in these games and I've coached in these games. They did what they had to do and they didn't make mistakes."

The lineup Hartsburg was referring to was Sarnia's, which featured ten players out with various injuries. Sarnia played the game with 12 skaters and two goaltenders.

"The kids played the right way," added Hartsburg. "They didn't make mistakes. They didn't turn pucks over. That shows that there's some discipline on their part."

Hartsburg noted that the team is excited to begin the playoffs, which open Thursday night in London.

"We're playing a great team and it's exciting," said Hartsburg of the playoffs. "It's always exciting. The kids are excited. They've worked so hard to get to this point, I'd be shocked if we don't see them give every ounce of energy and sweat that they have. You don't work as hard as they have, since Christmas really, to come out and just play flat in the playoffs. They earned their spot the hard way and now is our chance to try to upset the best team in Canada."

With game one set for Thursday at 7 p.m. in London, game two is the following night, also in London. Games three and four, in Sault Ste. Marie, will be on Sunday, Mar. 26, and Tuesday, Mar. 28.

*** GAME NOTES:

The national anthem was performed by Constable Lyndon Slewidge, who currently performs the anthems for the Ottawa Senators and was a fixture as the Greyhounds anthem singer for many years…During the first and second intermissions, figure skater Terra Findlay and her partner Liam Dougherty provided the crowd with a pair of outstanding routines.

*** OHL PLAYOFF SCHEDULE:

EASTERN CONFERENCE - QUARTER-FINAL SERIES

Series "A" - PETERBOROUGH vs. OTTAWA

Thurs., March 23 at Peterborough 7:00 Sat., March 25 at Ottawa 7:00 (at Scotiabank Place) Mon., March 27 at Peterborough 7:00 Wed., March 29 at Ottawa 7:00 Fri., March 31 at Peterborough 7:00* Sun., April 2 at Ottawa 2:00* Tues., April 4 at Peterborough 7:00*

Series "B" - BRAMPTON vs. BELLEVILLE

Fri., March 24 at Brampton 7:30 Sun., March 26 at Brampton 2:00 Mon., March 27 at Belleville 7:05 Wed., March 29 at Belleville 7:05 Fri., March 31 at Brampton 7:30* Sat., April 1 at Belleville 7:05* Tues., April 4 at Brampton 7:30*

Series "C" - BARRIE vs. TORONTO

Thurs., March 23 at Barrie 7:30 Fri., March 24 at Toronto 7:30 Sun., March 26 at Barrie 6:00 Tues., March 28 at Toronto 7:30 Thurs., March 30 at Barrie 7:30* Sun., April 2 at Toronto 2:00* Mon., April 3 at Barrie 7:30*

Series "D" - KINGSTON vs. SUDBURY

Fri., March 24 at Kingston 7:30 Sat., March 25 at Kingston 7:00 Tues., March 28 at Sudbury 7:30 Wed., March 29 at Sudbury 7:30 Fri., March 31 at Kingston 7:30* Sun., April 2 at Sudbury 7:00* Tues., April 4 at Kingston 7:00*

WESTERN CONFERENCE - QUARTER-FINAL SERIES

Series "A" - LONDON vs. SAULT STE. MARIE

Thurs., March 23 at London 7:00 Fri., March 24 at London 7:30 Sun., March 26 at Sault Ste. Marie 7:00 Tues., March 28 at Sault Ste. Marie 7:00 Thurs., March 30 at London 7:00* Sat., April 1 at Sault Ste. Marie 7:30* Mon., April 3 at London 7:00*

Series "B" - PLYMOUTH vs. WINDSOR

Sat., March 25 at Plymouth 7:30 Sun., March 26 at Windsor 7:00 Tues., March 28 at Plymouth 7:30 Thurs., March 30 at Windsor 7:30 Sat., April 1 at Plymouth 7:30* Sun., April 2 at Windsor 7:00* Tues., April 4 at Plymouth 7:30*

Series "C" - KITCHENER vs. OWEN SOUND

Fri., March 24 at Kitchener 7:30 Sat., March 25 at Owen Sound 7:30 Mon., March 27 at Kitchener 7:00 Wed., March 29 at Owen Sound 7:00 Fri., March 31 at Kitchener 7:30* Sat., April 1 at Owen Sound 7:30* Mon., April 3 at Kitchener 7:00*

Series "D" - GUELPH vs. SAGINAW

Fri., March 24 at Guelph 7:30 Mon., March 27 at Saginaw 7:11 Tues., March 28 at Guelph 7:00 Thurs., March 30 at Saginaw 7:11 Sat., April 1 at Guelph 7:30* Sun., April 2 at Saginaw 7:11* Tues., April 4 at Guelph 7:00*

* Denotes if necessary games.

ALL SERIES ARE BEST OF SEVEN.

*** AROUND THE OHL:

AT TORONTO: Hunter Tremblay had three goals and two assists to lead the Barrie Colts to a 5-3 win over the Toronto St. Michael's Majors. Jakub Petruzalek had a goal and two assists while Bryan Little had a goal and three assists in the win.

AT OTTAWA: Nick Foligno scored in a shootout, giving the Sudbury Wolves a 5-4 decision over the Ottawa 67's. Sudbury goaltender Kevin Beech stopped 39 shots. Robbie Lawrence had a pair of goals for the 67's.

AT PETERBOROUGH: Steve Downie scored at 1:59 of overtime to give the Peterborough Petes a 5-4 win over the Mississauga IceDogs. Downie added three assists while Trevor Hendrikx added a pair of goals and an assist in the win. Oskar Osala had a goal and two assists in the loss.

AT ERIE: Adam Berti and nick Palmiere had two goals each as the Erie Otters defeated the Guelph Storm 6-2. Justin Hodgman had three assists in the win.

AT BRAMPTON: Wojtek Wolski had three goals and two assists as the Brampton Battalion defeated the Belleville Bulls 7-3. Aaron Snow also had two goals, while Luch Aquino had a goal and two assists in the win.

AT LONDON: victor Oreskovich scored a pair of goals as the Kitchener Rangers defeated the London Knights 4-3. Rob Schremp had two goals and an assist in the loss.

AT OSHAWA: Rookie John Tavares scored at 19:57 to tie the game and Dale Mitchell scored in the shootout to give the Oshawa Generals a 3-2 victory over the Kingston Frontenacs. Both goaltenders, Danny Taylor of Kingston and Kevin Couture of Oshawa, stopped 36 shots.

***

(Photos courtesy of Jim Egan.)