Greyhounds crowned champions of west division

The Soo Greyhounds can now stroke a division championship off their list of team goals.

Thanks to a 3-3 tie against the Saginaw Spirit on Saturday night, the Greyhounds have officially clinched the Ontario Hockey League's west division with three regular season games remaining.

The division title also guarantees the Hounds the coveted second seed in the western conference playoffs, thus avoiding the powerful London Knights until at least the third round conference championship series.

In front of over 5,500 fans in Saginaw, Tyler Kennedy erased a 1-0 first period Saginaw lead with his 20th goal of the season 5:50 into the second period. Andrew Desjardins then scored 43 seconds later to put the Hounds ahead 2-1.

After the Spirit battled back to tie the game at 2-2 later in the period, Blair Jarrett scored a power play goal to put the Hounds ahead early in the third period.

But the Spirit, who played with a short bench due to a series of internal disciplinary suspensions, battled back to tie the game as Matt Corrente scored with 5:30 left in regulation time.

Tom Mannino and Joe McCann scored the first two Spirit goals while Michal Birner and McCann each added two assists. Former Greyhound Jeff Weber kicked aside 28 of 31 shots in goal.

Kyle Gajewski started in net for the Hounds and stopped 35 of 38 shots.

The Greyhounds conclude their two-game road trip on Sunday afternoon against the Plymouth Whalers before returning home for a pair of games to conclude the regular season.

On Friday, the Hounds host the Windsor Spitfires at 7:30 p.m. at Memorial Gardens before London visits next Sunday at 7 p.m.