JR. HOUNDS FINALLY LOSE

The streak was bound to end sooner or later.

The Soo Jr. Greyhounds dropped their first game since a 4-3 loss in Sudbury back in the middle of October Tuesday night at Memorial Gardens. The defending champion Rayside Balfour Sabrecats handed the Jr. Hounds just their fourth loss in 25 games as they beat the locals 5-4 at Memorial Gardens. The loss also marked the team's first home setback of the season.

The Jr. Hounds got off to a solid start opening the scoring just under six minutes into the game on a power play goal by Joey Coccimiglio as he tipped in a point shot from Barnabus Birkeland with Rayside's Wally Prawdzik in the penalty box.

In the second period the Sabrecats turned their game up and were repaid with a four-goal outburst led by two goals from Serge Daviau, his first coming 13 seconds into the period. Prawdzik and Matt Carbone also scored in the period as the Sabrecats took a 4-1 lead into the dressing room after two periods.

In the third period Rayside's Patrick Diotte gave the Sabrecats a 5-1 lead 1:43 into the period. Matt West pulled the Jr. Hounds to within three goals 35 seconds later and that's when Jr. Hound coach Jim Capy did something that's not often seen in junior hockey.

With just over 16 minutes left in the third period Capy pulled netminder Shane Bellini in favour of an extra attacker. With Bellini on the bench Matt West made the game even closer scoring his second goal of the night at 8:45. Just under two minutes later the Jr. Hounds pulled to within one goal as Coccimiglio scored his second of the night and the Soo trailed by just one. But it wasn't enough as Rayside held on for the 5-4 victory and ended the Jr. Hounds winning streak at 14 games.

Rayside goaltender Justin Labrie was busy facing 45 shots in the game and making 41 stops in the victory. Bellini stopped 29 shots in the loss.

The Jr. Hounds have a busy week and very little time to rest up as they face the Sudbury Northern Wolves on Wednesday in Sudbury before coming home to face the North Bay Skyhawks on Friday night and Rayside again on Sunday night in what will be the Sabrecats last regular season trip to Sault Ste. Marie. Start time for both games on the weekend is 7:30 p.m.