Greyhounds learning what works in rebuild season

Hockey has long become a game of systems.

Those systems get developed around roster makeup and the Soo Greyhounds are learning what system works for a team in a rebuild after going all-in a year ago.

On Friday night, the Greyhounds learned just what happens when the system is adhered to by all.

“We had a great game inside of our system,” veteran defenceman Andrew Gibson said shortly after a win on home ice. “We outplayed them in the corners and in the battles. (Charlie) Schenkel also played really well for us, and we found a way to get a win.”

Gibson had the game-winning goal in the third period as the Greyhounds picked up a 2-1 Ontario Hockey League win over the Flint Firebirds Friday night at the GFL Memorial Gardens.

Despite being outshot by a 38-22 margin, Gibson said he felt the Greyhounds kept the Firebirds to the outside in a lot of cases and those that the Firebirds did have were thwarted by a strong effort from Schenkel in goal.

“They were sending a lot of not-great shots on net,” Gibson said. “They had a lot of perimeter shots, a lot of point shots. Schenkel is on top of those always.”

In addition to praise from his teammates, Schenkel also garnered the attention of Greyhounds coach John Dean following the game.

“Charlie was great,” Dean said of the veteran netminder. “He continues to be a source of strength for us. I’m really excited about the way he’s been playing. More importantly, he’s starting to add pieces to his game.”

“He’s been a real source of strength playing the puck,” Dean added. “It’s been an issue for him in the past, so I give him credit. It really helps his game. When he’s engaged and playing the puck, it forces him to be mentally aware and he’s more in the game."

Asked about Schenkel, Gibson said “when he’s on his game, he is the best goalie in the league.”

“He worked so hard this summer,” Gibson also said. “He came into camp ready to go. He’s proving himself as one of the best goalies in the league right now.”

“We have to give him credit for sure,” Firebirds coach Paul Flache said. “We have to do a better job of getting in his eyes next time, getting more of a net presence because the goalies at this level, if they see it, they’re going to make the saves most of the time.”

For Dean, it was a game in which he felt his team was strong early on before nerves set in in a tight game.

“The first half of the game, we were very strong, specifically the first period,” Dean said. “We managed the puck very well. Our D corps looked very poised with the puck (and) our forwards were demanding it.”

Dean added that he felt his team looked “timid” and that they “were holding on a little bit,”

Dean agreed with the sentiment that the Greyhounds defended too much in the game, adding that it came down to youth.

“These guys have played critical minutes last year, but not with the same impact,” Dean said. “It’s just a young team sorting it out.”

Flache said that in the second half of the game he felt the Firebirds “started using our speed a little bit more.”

“We started to get some offensive zone time, which forced them to take some penalties,” Flache added. “We have to get our power play clicking a little bit more, be a little more lethal there and capitalize on those opportunities.”

The Greyhounds opened the scoring at 13:20 of the opening period as Travis Hayes scored into an open net with Flint goaltender Nathan Day out of position after a turnover behind the Firebirds net. Hayes took a pass from overage forward Justin DeZoete after the turnover.

Flint tied the game in the second period after a Greyhounds turnover. Cole Zurawski proceeded to beat Sault goaltender Charlie Schenkel from a sharp angle short side at 8:47 of the middle stanza.

The Greyhounds took the lead again at 6:25 of the third period as Andrew Gibson beat Day with a point shot that found its way through traffic in the slot and past Day.

Schenkel stopped 37 shots in the victory while Day made 20 saves for the Firebirds at the other end.

The Greyhounds homestand continues on Sunday afternoon against the Sarnia Sting before games against the Saginaw Spirit and Ottawa 67’s next week.

With Friday’s win, the Greyhounds improve to 4-5-0-0 on the season while Flint falls to 4-4-0-0.

Rookie forward Brady Smith returned to the Greyhounds lineup Friday night after missing time with an upper-body injury. Smith was hurt after taking a hit against the Sting in a game in Sarnia on Oct. 6.

Dean also said Friday night that veteran forward Marco Mignosa is nearing getting back in the lineup.

Mignosa has been skating on his own and is waiting to be cleared for contact in practice. Once that happens, the veteran forward will get back into the lineup, which could happen later in the Greyhounds current homestand.