Attack on the Soo


By
March 24, 2019

It is becoming an annual rite of passage. As in, it is a sure sign of spring in Sault Ste. Marie when the Owen Sound Attack team bus rolls into town.

After all, this marks the third straight spring that Owen Sound has faced off against the Soo Greyhounds in the Ontario Hockey League playoffs.

Two years ago, Owen Sound upended the Soo four games to two in the second round of the Western Conference playoffs.

A year ago, Owen Sound took the heavily-favoured, top-ranked Greyhounds into the second round of the playoffs before the Soo crew was able to prevail in the seventh-and-deciding game.

And this spring, the two teams are again facing off with the no. 3 seed Greyhounds taking on the young, rebuilding Attack, which finished in sixth place in the Western Conference during the 2018-2019 OHL regular season.

At any rate, the Owen Sound team bus was a familiar site in downtown Sault Ste. Marie over the past few days for Games 1 and 2 of this year’s playoff showdown.

In all, the Attack spent parts of four days in Sault Ste. Marie and was able to split a pair of games with the Greyhounds at the Gardens.

And yes, that team bus was kept busy shuttling the Attack back and forth to and from a number of meals in local downtown restaurants, enjoying the good food of Muio’s on Queen St. and Gliss on Spring St.

Meanwhile, at Game 2 on Saturday night, I meet up with old Hound Wayne Groulx.

The now 54-year old Groulx was a superstar center during his entire four-year OHL playing career that he spent with the Greyhounds.

Wearing no. 9, Groulx racked up 579 points — regular seasons and playoffs included. Not only is Groulx the leading scorer in Greyhound history, he is the third-leading point-getter in the all-time history of the OHL.

At any rate, it was good to catch up with my old buddy Groulx after 34 years.

Groulx traveled from his home in Fort Erie, Ontario to watch his 18-year old son, Daylon Groulx, who is a two-way forward in his second full OHL season with Owen Sound.

As for the elder Groulx, I do hope the Greyhounds at some point see fit to at least hang a banner in GFL Memorial Gardens that recognizes their all-time, career points leader and one of the greatest scorers in OHL history.

It is fine and well that the Greyhounds, through banners that hang in GFL Memorial Gardens, recognize the achievements of graduated players who went on from here to star in the National Hockey League.

But how about the same recognition for a guy like Groulx who, simply put, is the all-time leading scorer in the history of a Greyhound OHL franchise that came into existence back in 1972.

Come on Greyhound management, please do this.

PHOTO: From left to right, Soo Greyhounds all-time career points leader Wayne Groulx, Greyhounds “super fan” Chris Sierzputowski and Randy Russon of Hockey News North meet up at Saturday’s OHL playoff game against the Owen Sound Attack at GFL Memorial Gardens. (Photo by Tommy Vernelli.)


What you think about “Attack on the Soo”

  1. Hey Randy ,
    What an awesome time I had catching up with you at the game on Saturday !!
    Thank you for all of the kind words , my time up in the Soo this past weekend was something I’ll never forget . Finally meeting “SuperFan” Chris was another highlight of the weekend , what a nice man he is !! To see and hear about happenings some 34 years ago in Greyhounds history is just amazing , some photo’s and stories I hadn’t even seen before .
    Keep up the great work Randy , your coverage of this great sport in the North is second to none … Here’s hoping for a long and competitive series between the Hounds and The Attack !

    Wayne Groulx

  2. Thanks Randy for orchestrating the meeting with Wayne! Still over-whelmed to meet the man that spawned so many of my hockey memories! His recollection of one of my favourite stories regarding the countdown banner was my hi-light! His recall of the event was amazing! Coming into the arena and getting a crescendo of stick taps from the team,as I marked another “X” on the banner was the best! We shared a great laugh over that event from some 34 years ago!
    Such a kind and genuine man that just increases his persona in my mind! I for one can’t wait until his jersey number hangs in the rafters! The man is is a true reflection of what a Soo Greyhound truly is and it’s time he was recognized for his accomplishments to this city and the community. Kindest Regards Chris Sierzputowski

  3. Greatest Greyhound right there in my opinion.
    Ernie Godden’s name was up in the rafters at Windsor Arena decades ago.
    Just because he didn’t carve out a superstar NHL career doesn’t mean he wasn’t a dominant player in his time, in this league.
    Wake up Greyhounds!
    Invite Crispy up for the induction. The old redhead can shriek at him at centre ice from behind the bench. WAAAAYYYNNNNEEEE!!

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