The past is the past, says Bulldogs coach

The last time they met, the Soo Greyhounds handed the Hamilton Bulldogs their most lopsided loss of the season.

That was a 10-0 decision at the Essar Centre on Feb. 16.

As the two teams prepare for the opening game of the Ontario Hockey League final on Thursday night in Sault Ste. Marie, both coaches say that game is well behind them.

Things got heated late in the contest when the Greyhounds scored a pair of late goals on the power play.

Word were exchanged between the benches as Hamilton Coach John Gruden wasn’t pleased with the Greyhounds using their top power play unit late in the game.

Gruden said at the time that it was something his team would remember if the two teams met in the playoffs.

“I made it quite clear that I wasn’t happy (about it),” Gruden said following the game. “To me it’s completely classless. I would never in a million years send out my first power play unit in an 8-0 game. If they’re fortunate enough to win and we’re fortunate enough to win and we have to play for something special and important, that goes into the memory bank because that’s about as classless a thing as I’ve seen in this league as a coach.”

On Wednesday, Gruden said the Bulldogs left the game behind them when they left Sault Ste. Marie.

“We left the beating when we left the Sault,” Gruden said. “We’ve been punched in the mouth and knocked down. Then you’ve got two choices, you can lay down or get up and keep playing. This team has had a few times when we’ve been hit with adversity and they always find a way to rebound.”

At the time, Bannister said that using his top power play units late was because he felt the Bulldogs were taking liberties on the Greyhound players but heading into the final, that game is “out of sight, out of mind.”

“We’re well aware of how well Hamilton has played in the playoffs,” Bannister said. “Our kids are eager to get ready and get back into it here. It’s going to be a tough battle for us.”

The Greyhounds will look to take advantage of having the opening two games of the series on home ice.

“The first two games are important here on home ice,” Bannister said. “We’ve been really good on home ice so far in the playoffs and regular season and we worked hard to get home ice so we’re going to have to take advantage of that.”

“We want to make sure our guys come out with a lot of energy in the first period of game one,” Bannister added.

For Gruden, Hamilton having success in the series is going to rely on a few things.

“Number one is that we have to play with controlled emotion,” Gruden said. “Our guys have a lot of energy right now and sometimes that can work against you with penalties and discipline. We’ve done a really good job of managing that in the playoffs.

“The second thing is the puck management aspect of it,” Gruden added. “We’re going into an environment where (the Greyhounds) play extremely fast and like the puck on their stick. When we have it, we have to make sure that if they do get it back, they have to go 200 feet. If we start turning pucks over, it will be a long game for us.”

Overage forward Hayden Verbeek remains out for the Greyhounds.

On Wednesday, Bannister said the veteran forward is out “indefinitely.” Bannister wouldn’t elaborate on the injury.

Bannister also said that veteran defenceman Anthony DeMeo, who has been out with a concussion, has begun skating with the team. DeMeo is not available for game on Thursday but he could potentially later in the series.

The Bulldogs remain relatively healthy heading into the final.  Forward Owen Burnell is the lone player who has missed extended time. The 19-year-old has been out since early February due to a concussion.