The Soo Greyhounds delivered a polished performance against the OHL leaders, the Ottawa 67's, securing a narrow but impressive 2-1 victory at the GFL Memorial Gardens on Friday. This win marked a significant moment for the team, as they faced one of the Ontario Hockey League's top teams in a crucial regular-season match.
Greyhounds coach John Dean praised the team's effort, describing it as their 'first really polished game in five games'. He highlighted their defensive prowess, particularly their ability to limit Ottawa's scoring chances and control the play in front of goaltender Landon Miller. Dean's satisfaction with the team's performance was evident, as he noted their successful execution of a game plan that they intended to use as a benchmark moving forward.
Ottawa coach Dave Cameron, while acknowledging the Greyhounds' strong defense, also recognized the challenges his team faced. Cameron attributed their limited chances to their own choppy play and the sound defensive strategies employed by the Greyhounds. He specifically mentioned the difficulty his team had in creating Grade A scoring opportunities against Miller.
The game's scoring began with Ottawa's Cooper Foster, who scored a power-play goal in the second period. However, the Greyhounds tied the game at one when Christopher Brown's shot deflected off Jordan Charron and past Ottawa's Jaeden Nelson. Charron then sealed the victory for the Greyhounds with another deflection in the third period.
Landon Miller's performance was commendable, as he made 14 saves for the Greyhounds. Dean expressed his pride in Miller's performance, especially considering the recent trade for goaltender Carter George. Dean also mentioned the team's fatigue from the previous day's game, which they managed to overcome, making every inch of the ice their own.
The Greyhounds' win improved their record to 23-14-1-1, securing their position as the fourth-ranked team in the OHL's Western Conference. They now hold a one-point lead over the London Knights, who have a game in hand. The team will continue their momentum with a three-game homestand and a subsequent two-game road trip to Sarnia and Guelph.
Injury updates were provided by Dean, who confirmed that defenseman Jakub Winkelhofer and forward Brady Martin are currently week-to-week cases.
