OHL Notebook: Senyshyn jumps to AHL

With three players already moving up to the pro ranks in recent days, Soo Greyhounds forward Zach Senyshyn became the latest to advance to finish the season.

Senyshyn was added to the roster of the American Hockey League’s Providence Bruins on Friday morning and will join the team for the remainder of the Bruins playoff run.

A first round pick of the NHL’s Boston Bruins, Senyshyn is the fourth member of the Greyhounds to join their respective pro teams after Blake Speers and Colton White joined the AHL’s Albany Devils earlier this week and defenceman Gustav Bouramman joined the NHL’s Minnesota Wild.

As the Ontario Hockey League’s Eastern Conference final opened on Thursday night, the Erie Otters and Owen Sound Attack opened the Western Conference Final on Friday night at Erie Insurance Arena.

A four-goal second period was the difference as the Otters skated to a series-opening 6-1 win.

Taylor Raddysh had a pair of goals and an assist, all in the second period, to pace the Otters offensively. Alex DeBrincat also had a three-point night with a goal and two assists. Warren Foegele and Anthony Cirelli chipped in with a goal and an assist each. Dylan Strome also scored for Erie.

Otters netminder Joseph Murdaca made 27 saves.

“Our guys played really responsible defensively,” said Erie Coach Kris Knoblauch. “Our puck management was good. We had very few turnovers. The biggest thing was how well we pressured the puck and created turnovers.”

Chase Campbell had the lone goal for the Attack.

Attack netminder Michael McNiven, who was solid in the Attack’s six-game series win over the Greyhounds in round two, struggled on Friday. He was pulled after surrendering five goals on 16 shots in just under 34 minutes of work. Emanuel Vella entered the game and stopped 15 of 16 shots the rest of the way.

In the post-game press conference, Owen Sound Coach Ryan McGill said “our team looked like a deer in the headlights, a little bit nervous to start and I don’t think we recovered after that. Give credit (to Erie). Their veteran players played an extremely solid and fast game.”

The series resumes on Saturday night in Erie. The Eastern Conference final will also resume on Saturday night with game two in Peterborough.