Greyhounds run wild on the IceDogs (video)

An emotional opening ceremony for the Soo Greyhounds and their fans carried over into the game as the homeside handed the visiting Mississauga IceDogs a lopsided 7-3 loss on Friday night at the Steelback Centre.

Taking advantage of special teams play, the Greyhounds tallied two power play goals and added two more shorthanded in the convincing win, the team's fourth in a row.

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Before the opening faceoff, Greyhounds owner Dr. Lou Lukenda and Mayor John Rowswell presented Team Canada head coach Craig Hartsburg and Czech Republic player David Kuchejda with gifts celebrating their accomplishments.

Both names were also added to the commemmorative banners, which honours Greyhound world junior hockey championship participants, that hangs at the Steelback Centre.

When the puck eventually dropped, the Greyhounds jumped all over the IceDogs, outskating their opponents and outworking their man to loose pucks.

Several Greyhounds turned in outstanding performances including Dustin Jeffrey with three goals and an assist, Cody Thornton with a goal and three assists, Kuchejda with a goal and an assist, rookie Chris MacKinnon with three helpers and Andrew Desjardins with a goal and an assist.

Defensively, Andrew Campbell was a plus-four on the night while Brad Good was a +3 and goaltender Kyle Gajewski had another solid start.

Thornton opened the scoring just 1:03 into the game on the power play as he wired a high shot into the net for his 20th goal of the season.

After Travis Fuller tied the game for Mississauga, Kuchejda and the Greyhound power play struck again with 1:45 left in the opening period. Just 21 seconds later, Jeffrey potted his first goal of the night into a wide open net for a 3-1 Greyhound lead.

In the second period, the Hounds penalty killing units went to work as Andrew Desjardins starting by stripping the Mississauga defenseman inside the blueline and lifting a high shot over goaltender Lucas Lobsinger.

Jeffrey then went five-hole while shorthanded less than two minutes later to put the locals ahead 5-1.

Moments later, a pair of former Hounds struck back against their old club. Defenseman Josh Day set up former first rounder Chris Lawrence for his 25th goal of the season.

Before the period was out, the Hounds struck for two more quick goals as Jeffrey, whom the Hounds acquired in exchange for Lawrence, notched the hat trick and Matt Lyall added the other.

With the Hounds on their heels for most of the third period, Stefan Legein capped the game's scoring for Mississauga.

Gajewski faced 32 shots in the win while the Greyhounds fired 27 shots at Lobsinger.

Aside from Kuchejda, Jacob Lalande returned to the Hounds lineup after recovering from an Achillies injury and centred an effective fourth line with Brandon Biggers and Josh Moes.

Jiri Tlusty continues to rehab his injury in Toronto but could return to the Greyhounds lineup next week.

With the win, the Hounds improve to 20-18-0-4 on the season for 44 points.

The Greyhounds are back in action on Saturday night at the Steelback Centre as they host the Toronto St. Michael's Majors in a 7:30 p.m. start.

Click here to view SooToday video highlight reel