Here ‘n there
Around the rinks of the Ontario Hockey League, Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League and Western Collegiate Hockey Association:
…Soo Greyhounds have an opportunity to surpass the .500 mark this weekend when they play host to the Kingston Frontenacs and Peterborough Petes. Fresh from taking three points in road games at Flint and Windsor last weekend, rookie head coach Drew Bannister and his Greyhounds — who are one of the least-experienced teams in the OHL — have 19 points in 20 games to date with a record of 8-9-3.
…Goalie Troy Timpano is slated to return to the lineup of the OHL Sudbury Wolves this weekend. Timpano, who just turned 18-years of age on November 13, has been sidelined with a foot injury since early October and wore a plastic boot for four weeks. He returned to practice with the Wolves earlier this week.
…With an overabundance of high-end, veteran forwards, highly-regarded, second-year pivot Zack Dorval of the Kingston Frontenacs has been a healthy scratch for a number of games — in addition to being injured — thus far this OHL season. A skilled, gritty forward, Dorval was the Frontenacs second-round pick at the 2015 OHL Draft. But with so many forwards ahead of Dorval on the Kingston depth chart, it will be interesting to see if the Frontenacs — who are in first place in the Eastern Conference — end up trading the young plum to a middle-of-the-pack team.
…The expansion French River Rapids have the NOJHL’s worst record at 1-19-0 but they also have who could be the league’s best coach in Moe Mantha. Appearing on a recent edition of the Hockey North Show on ESPN 1400 Radio, Kevin Cain, president and director of hockey operations of the reigning champion Soo Thunderbirds, referred to veteran junior hockey bench boss Mantha as “the best coach in our league, in my opinion.” And veteran Timmins Rock coach Paul Gagne told the Timmins Daily Press that with Mantha at the helm, “French River is a very well-coached team. They do all of the little things right.” The Rapids are the youngest team in the NOJHL with a multitude of 1998 and 1999 birth-year players.
…Lake Superior State University Lakers of the WCHA have an overall record of 2-8-2 thus far this season. But the future of the program is looking good as evidenced by the fact that of the Lakers top six scorers, one is a sophomore and the other five are freshman. Leading the Laker scoring chart is sophomore forward J.T. Henke. And right behind him are five freshmen — forwards Gage Torrel, Mitch Hults, Anthony Nellis and Diego Cuglietta and defenceman Owen Headrick.
The Hounds should go after Dorval love his style of play watched him alot with the Soo Thunder Midgets. Trade for him a trade to get Dorval will give the ‘Hounds 3+ more years at Centre.