Intense opening to Greyhounds training camp

The battle for roster spots were evident early as the Soo Greyhounds hit the ice for the first time on Friday.

After a tough day of fitness testing on Thursday, Greyhound hopefuls were put through the paces during practise sessions on Friday morning before taking part in an evening scrimmage at the John Rhodes Community Centre.

Friday's scrimmage proved to be an intense battle with several veterans and rookies drawing the interest of the Hounds staff and fans.

"It was a good game on the first day," said Greyhounds head coach Craig Hartsburg. "They competed hard today with a good practise this morning and a very competitive scrimmage. The veterans were really good and some young players certainly did some good things to catch our eye.

"There's lots of competition (for roster spots) so the competitive level was really good. We noticed that some of the things we worked on in practise this morning, they were working on in the game."

The Black versus Red scrimmage saw a 4-4 draw after regulation time with Team Red emerging victorious with a 2-0 advantage in a shootout.

Tyler Cuthbert, Josh Moes, Jacob Chiblow and Payton Liske scored for Team Red while Matt Lyall added a pair of assists. Chris MacKinnon, Chris Dunham, Andrew Desjardins and Dylan King scored for Team Black.

In the shootout, Mike Rivard and King scored for Team Red while Brett Perlini, Desjardins and Stephen Farrell were turned aside by goaltender Jeffrey Larson. Red goaltender Zachary Zanussi turned aside Liske, Brad DiCandia, Behn Robertson, Moes and Cameron Odam.

Veteran Kyle Gajewski started in goal for Team Red before Max Paluszynski played the second period and Zanussi the third. Matt Hache started and played almost 30 minutes for Team Black before making way for Larson.

One player that drew some serious attention was 2005 eighth round draft pick Anthony Perdicaro, who is already signed by the Greyhounds and suited up for the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League's Northern Michigan Black Bears, now known as the Soo Indians after father Charlie Perdicaro purchased the team over the summer, last season.

"I really liked Perdicaro today," said Hartsburg. "He's a smart player and his conditioning level to me is amazing compared to last year, which is part of the process for young kids anyway. I think MacKinnon got better as the game went on and (2006 first round draft pick James) Livingston was pretty good.

"(2006 second rounder) Sean Jones is a little guy and he's light but he is smart, skilled, quick and he is fearless in areas that most players don't like to go to. He is a kid that we think will develop into something pretty neat, it's just how quick and when that is the question."

Returning import David Kuchejda also had a solid scrimmage along with Grant McGee, Cody Thornton, Lyall, Dustin Jeffrey and 2005 first round pick Jacob Muzzin, who missed all of last season with a back injury.

"David is David. He was just the way we saw him last year and just the way we like him," said Hartsburg. "He is like a bowling ball, he's fearless, he's in people's face, finishes checks, holds onto the puck and goes to net. It's grinding and tough things for a smaller guy but he's strong.

"I thought Jake Muzzin also had a good scrimmage and he is only going to get better because he hasn't played a hockey game in over a year. He played some summer hockey but shinny is not like playing in a game."

Another player that had fans talking, if not for size alone, was free agent invite Shane Peterson, who wore number eight for Team Red. Peterson, who was engaged in a second period fight, is listed at six-foot-nine and 240 pounds. The Halifax native played for his hometown junior A Wolverines last season.

The schedule for Saturday remains much the same as each team will hold a morning practise and gather for a scrimmage at 5 p.m. Fans are invited to attend at no charge.

*** CAMP SCHEDULE:

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 2ND 8:15 a.m. Team Black Stretch 9:00 a.m. Team Black Practice 9:45 a.m. Team Red Stretch 10:30 a.m. Team Red Practice 4:00 p.m. Team Red / Team Black Stretch 4:30 p.m. Warm-up 5:00 p.m. Team Red VS Team Black

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 3RD 8:15 a.m. Team Black Stretch 9:00 a.m. Team Black Practice 9:45 a.m. Team Red Stretch 10:30 a.m. Team Red Practice 4:45 p.m. Team Stretches 5:30 p.m. Warm-up 6:00 p.m. Annual Red and White Game

*** TRAINING CAMP ROSTERS:

Team Black

30. Matt Hache G 33. Jeffrey Larson G

2. Brad Good RD 3. Michael Quesnele RD 4. Andrew Campbell LD 5. Josh Godfrey RD 6. Stephen Farrell RD 7. Dylan King LD 8. Chris Taillefer LD 9. Chris MacKinnon LW 10. Dustin Jeffrey LC 11. Cody Thornton RW 12. Brandon MacLean LW 13. Andrew Desjardins LC 14. James Livingston RW 15. Mike Rivard LW 16. Brett Perlini LC 17. Bryan Cooper RW 18. Chris Dunham RC 19. Jake Carrick RW

Team Red

30. Kyle Gajewski G 33. Max Paluszynski G 35. Zachary Zanussi G

2. Trevor Solomon LD 3. Brett Halstead RD 4. Jacob Muzzin LD 5. Tyler Cuthbert LD 6. Jacob Chiblow LD 7. Cameron Odam RD 8. Shane Peterson LD 9. Payton Liske LW 10. Matt Lyall LC 11. David Kuchejda RW 12. Jacob Lalonde LW 13. Anthony Perdicaro RC 14. Josh Moes RW 15. Sean Jones LW 16. Behn Robertson LC 18. Brad DiCandia RC 19. Tyler Gendron LC 20. Grant McGee RW

*** EXHIBITION GAMES:

Thursday, September 7th @ Sudbury 7:30 p.m. Saturday, September 9th @ Saginaw 6:00 p.m. Sunday, September 10th VS Saginaw 6:00 p.m. (John Rhodes Community Centre) Friday, September 15th @ Sudbury 7:30 p.m. Sunday, September 17th VS Sudbury 7:00 p.m. (Taffy Abel Arena – LSSU Campus)

*** REGULAR SEASON SCHEDULE:

SEPTEMBER Fri. 22 @ Kitchener 7:30 p.m. Sat. 23 @ Owen Sound 7:30 p.m. Thurs. 28 @ Windsor 7:30 p.m. Sat. 30 @ Plymouth 7:05 p.m.

OCTOBER Sun. 1 @ Sarnia 2:05 p.m. Thurs. 5 @ Barrie 7:30 p.m. Fri. 6 @ Guelph 7:30 p.m. Sun. 8 @ Oshawa 6:05 p.m. Wed. 11 VS Sudbury 7:00 p.m. (Steelback Centre Opener) Fri. 13 VS Oshawa 7:30 p.m. Sat. 14 VS Barrie 7:30 p.m. Fri. 20 VS Belleville 7:30 p.m. Sun. 22 VS Kingston 7:00 p.m. Thurs. 26 @ Peterborough 7:00 p.m. Fri. 27 @ Kingston 7:30 p.m. Sun. 29 @ Ottawa 2:00 p.m.

***

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