Second round halts Hounds
At the end of the day, actions spoke louder than words. Soo Greyhounds talked a good game, about how they were the best comeback team in the Ontario Hockey League and how the Kitchener Rangers were “shivering” after dropping Game 4 of their Western Conference semi-final series in Sault Ste. Marie.
Never mind that after losing Game 4 that Kitchener still held a 3-1 series lead. Yep, the Rangers were headed back to Kitchener up three games to one but somehow some of the Greyhounds thought it was them who were in the driver’s seat.
Well, the Game 4 victory momentum of the Hounds would not last long. Playing at home in Game 5, Kitchener outshot the Greyhounds by a 34-16 margin and rode a decisive 5-1 victory to take the series 4-1. And just like that, the season was over for the Greyhounds after two rounds that included the loss to Kitchener and an opening round series win over the London Knights.
The Greyhounds were clearly out-played by the top seeded Rangers throughout the five game series. And the general consensus seems to be that Hounds head coach John Dean was out maneuvered by Kitchener bench boss Jussi Ahokas. It was as though Ahokas was playing chess and Dean was playing checkers.
To be sure, it certainly seemed as though Dean rode his top two forward lines and top two defensive pairings way too much. The Greyhounds did not get the secondary assistance from their third line and depth players that the Rangers did. Not even close. It was like Dean was always a move behind Ahokas.
The Hounds could not beat the Rangers more than once even with a far superior goalie in Carter George versus Christian Kirsch. The Hounds could not beat the Rangers — or even take them to a Game 6 or a Game 7 — despite a talented roster put together by general manager Kyle Raftis that included superstar overage Marco Mignosa, the world class Brady Martin and fellow forward — and National Hockey League draft pick –Jordan Charron. Not to mention, George between the pipes and a pair of stud defensemen in Lukas Fischer and Chase Reid.
Yes, Dean and some of his players certainly talked a good game. But all of the talk amounted to a mere one win.
So, what does the future hold for the Hounds? Will Dean, who was first hired by the Greyhounds in 2018, return for another season? I am actually surprised — and I am not the only one — that Dean has lasted this long. After all, he has never taken the Greyhounds beyond the second round of the playoffs in all of his time in Sault Ste. Marie.
By the way, did you know that Dean is the longest-serving head coach in the 54-year OHL history of the Greyhounds? Yep, Dean has coached the Hounds longer than any one else. Longer than Terry Crisp. Longer than Ted Nolan. Longer than Paul Thériault. Longer than Dave Cameron. Longer than Craig Hartsburg. Longer than Sheldon Keefe. Longer than Drew Bannister.
Long enough?
