Hounds trim down after rookie game

After a brief glimpse of the future, the Soo Greyhounds sent their 2004 draft picks packing on Friday.

Due to an Ontario Hockey League mandate, players not eligible for the upcoming season from the 2004 draft must leave training camp after 48 hours of on-ice workouts.

The moves come after a pair of scrimmages including a rookie game on Friday afternoon at Memorial Gardens.

From the 2004 class, first round draft pick Ryan McInerney and second round picks Jake Lalonde and Josh Day will remain with team as eligible players.

Lalonde injured his ankle in action on Friday although the problem does not appear to be serious.

The Hounds also assigned third round pick Darren Miller on defense and fourth round goaltender Matt Hache to the Soo Thunderbirds.

Players returning home include Ryan Ramage, Ryan Oliver, Neil Ruffini, Jeff Manryk, Jonathan Bacon, Andrew Campbell, Jake Lalonde, Patrick Tiesling, Kyle Verbeek, Jeff Hogan and Kraig Wright.

In the rookie game, McInerney continued to showcase his offensive talents and netted a pair of goals to lead Team Red past Team Black 9-3.

Ruffini and Manryk also scored two goals each while single goals went to Sean Bassingthwaite, Sean Smyth and Brandon Coccimiglio for Team Red.

Tiesling, Mike McMillan and Brandon MacLean scored for Team Black.

Smyth, a selection from the 2003 draft, continues to impress and draw good reviews from the Greyhounds brass after two days on the ice.

"When the 15 and 16 year olds are out on the ice with the older guys they get a little intimidated but we had them out with their own age bracket today and they were more confident, making plays and taking the body," said Greyhounds head coach Marty Abrams.

Scrimmages will continue on Saturday as the Greyhounds have scrapped a team practise and added a 9 a.m. game before playing again at 3 p.m.

The team will then host the annual Red/White Game on Sunday at 7 p.m. at Memorial Gardens.

Following the Red/White contest, the Greyhounds expect to make their first serious set of cuts.