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It was a move that has paid big dividends for the Soo Greyhounds.
On Oct. 15, the team sent three draft picks to the Kingston Frontenacs for defenceman Billy Constantinou.
After some early adjustments to his new club, the veteran OHL blueliner has settled in nicely with the team.
“It’s been great, and I’ve really enjoyed it,” Constantinou said of the adjustment. “I feel like I’ve found my game a bit more. I feel a bit more comfortable and my confidence is up. I’ve loved it so far. At the start, there was a bit of an adjustment period but once I got my feet wet a bit, things started to go well.”
After adjusting to his new club, Greyhounds coach John Dean feels like there’s more to come from Constantinou.
“There were some growing pains to start for sure, both on expectations and of what kind of style we want to play,” Dean said. “Sometimes there’s a little bit of confusion on what kind of style we play. People we think we’re a little bit rogue and we’re not. We play a high-skilled game within a structure. The first three or four games, he was uncertain what that meant but as (associate coach) Jordan Smith spent a lot of time with him and as Jordan got him through a lot of video and expectations and what we look like, then you could see his skill really shine inside our structure. It’s been fun to watch him evolve as a Greyhound here. I think there’s more to come. There’s still more potential to him there too.”
Joining a team that plays a style suited to his own, the 18-year-old said that in his OHL draft year the Greyhounds were an organization he hoped would draft him.
“The Sault is a great style of play that caters to my style as well,” Constantinou said. “It’s nice on both parts. This is an organization I would have liked to have been drafted by. I did my research in minor midget and I could tell that with my style of play that I would fit well with this kind of squad.”
Dean has called Constantinou “a fun player to watch.”
“His vision on the ice is really elite,” Dean said. “His capability to make difficult plays look simple, he places the puck on guys sticks and sees guys open that, even from the bench as a coaching staff, you don’t see. Even on video, you think ‘Why’s he going to do that?’ and sure enough, it’s on somebody’s tape and they’re in for a grade-A scoring chance. He’s got the vision and capability, he’s one of those guys that sees things at an elite level.”
Dean also credited Constantinou’s improvements defensively since joining the club.
“He’s also given a lot of attention to detail on the defensive side of the puck,” Dean said. “He’s definitely improved (defensively) and is making strides. As a coach, it’s all you can ask for. All-in-all, he’s becoming a pretty complete player.”
With seven goals and 29 points in 34 games, including six goals and 23 points in 26 games with the Greyhounds, Constantinou is looking to take things one step at a time in the second half.
“I’m just trying to contribute as much as I can,” Constantinou said. “I’m just trying to go into every game and help as much as I can and get the two points for the team. Recently I’ve been doing a bit better and hopefully I can keep it going. I’m just trying to come in, take if day-by-day and see where it takes me.”