Hounds Sweep Road Trip

After starting the season with a 1-4-1 record, the Soo Greyhounds had put up some solid efforts against some strong opponents, but didn't have much to show for their efforts.

The Soo Greyhounds used a three-game road trip, against three division rivals, to prove that they aren't going to be pushovers and that hard work really does pay off. After beating the Sarnia Sting 3-2 on Friday and the Plymouth Whalers 4-1 on Saturday the Greyhounds swept their three-game West Division road trip with a 5-2 victory over the Windsor Spitfires in Ontario Hockey League action on Thanksgiving Monday.

The Hounds used solid offensive performances from Tyler Kennedy, Jeff Larsh and Jordan Smith as well as another strong performance from netminder Kevin Druce to seal the win, their third in four days.

Kennedy, who has played well this season, led the way offensively with a goal, which turned into the game winner, along with two assists. Larsh and Smith both chipped in with 2 goals. Newly acquired defenceman Chris Hawley picked up two assists in the win as well for the Hounds. The assists give Hawley 3 points in his first three games with the Hounds.

Sault native Craig Kennedy and John Scott Dickson scored the Windsor goals.

The loss drops the Spitfires record to 3-6-0-2 on the season, while the Hounds record is back at .500 as they improve to 4-4-1; good enough for a tie with Sarnia for second place in the West Division, although Sarnia has the edge as they have a higher winning percentage.

The Hounds are one of the OHL's hottest teams at the moment with their three-game winning streak as Owen Sound and Belleville are both riding three-game winning streaks as well.

Special teams for the Hounds were strong in the win as the Hounds went 3-for-3 with the man advantage and killed off all but one of Windsor's seven power play opportunities.

Druce was big again for the Hounds stopping 30 Windsor shots in the win and being named the game's first star, which was the fourth time this season that he has been named a game star.

Kyle Knechtel stopped 17 Hound shots directed at him in the loss.

The Hounds now prepare for a three-game home stand as the Sudbury Wolves are in town Wednesday night, while Oshawa will be in town on Friday night and Kingston on Sunday afternoon.

In other OHL action on holiday Monday, a Jesse Boucher goal with a minute left in the second period gave Kitchener a 3-2 lead en route to a 4-2 win over Guelph; in Mississauga, a 2-goal performance by Dan Rudisuela gave the IceDogs a 4-3 victory over Ottawa; and goals by Danny Richmond, Dylan Hunter and David Bolland gave London a 3-0 win over the Erie Otters.