SSM Greyhounds 2023-24 Season Thread (Part One)

[Houndzfan20]

He's been playing some solid hockey, I mean sure there is always an upgrade but idk if replacing Sirizzotti is on the books

Defense and Goaltending is where we need the help, we have the fire power up front, they just need help on the back end

I think the defense is good for the most part. I think an upgrade in goaltending would fix most of the problems keeping the puck out of the net. Sure I'd love another top d but I would rather spend assets on a top goalie (if available) and two forwards (if we have enough assets) .

Even with all of what I would like to see, I'm not sure it'd be enough though.

 

[HockeyPops]

I think a top 4/5 defenseman is a must if this team want to contend. Who moves up the lineup if (when) there is an injury to one of our top 4?

 

[scotty171]

I think a top 4/5 defenseman is a must if this team want to contend. Who moves up the lineup if (when) there is an injury to one of our top 4?

I agree. Even without an injury I think having one more solid option is important.

 

[HockeyPops]

Goal scoring doesn't seem to be our issue. Keeping them out of the net is a bigger issue. Obviously, a change in the net should help that. But an upgrade at defense should also be looked at IMO.

Looking at the current standings, I compared the top 6 teams from east and west (possible contenders). SOO sits 2nd place in goals/game (4.4), with Kitchener in first (5.0). For goals against, SOO is 3rd worst out of those 12 teams with 3.6. NB has 3.9 and BRNT has 3.8. KIT and GUE are the class of the league, sitting at 2.7 goals against per game.

TEAM	GAMES	GF	GFA	GA	GAA
PBO	19​	65​	3.4​	60​	3.2​
NB	21​	80​	3.8​	81​	3.9​
MISS	19​	72​	3.8​	60​	3.2​
OTT	19​	65​	3.4​	56​	2.9​
BRT	20​	68​	3.4​	75​	3.8​
SUD	20​	75​	3.8​	69​	3.5​
KIT	21​	106​	5.0​	56​	2.7​
SOO	21​	93​	4.4​	75​	3.6​
LDN	21​	81​	3.9​	65​	3.1​
SAG	19​	73​	3.8​	65​	3.4​
GUE	20​	62​	3.1​	54​	2.7​
OS	21​	77​	3.7​	71​	3.4​

 

[scotty171]

With Beck playing on the wing with Allard now I think finding someone to play with BMB could still be something to look at though. I wouldn't mind if they gave Martin a chance there. He played the wing at the U17 tournament.

 

[DeletedAccountt]

He's been playing some solid hockey, I mean sure there is always an upgrade but idk if replacing Sirizzotti is on the books

Defense and Goaltending is where we need the help, we have the fire power up front, they just need help on the back end

To me, if we upgrade an OA it’s 38.

 

[HockeyPops]

The incremental improvement of upgrading any of our OAs is probably not worth it.

 

[scotty171]

The incremental improvement of upgrading any of our OAs is probably not worth it.

I don't know about that. Depends on who it is for. If it is to improve that D spot we were talking about before it might be worth it. Or someone like Peer, Giroux, Kressler, Zito, Goure, would be worth the upgrade depending on the cost of course ( I have no idea who is available).

 

[OHL4Life]

The incremental improvement of upgrading any of our OAs is probably not worth it.

what if its someone like thornton out of barrie?

 

[Houndzfan20]

If we were to upgrade an OA I'd rather keep D'Intino over sirrizotti. Imo he's always doing something noticeable. I rarely notice sirrizotti, even when he's on the first line.

I had high hopes for him this season.

I'd grab Thornton in a heartbeat.

 

[HockeyPops]

Next 5 games will all be tough. Erie, Brantford, Mississauga this week. Erie is playing some great hockey of late, only losing 1 of their last 7 in regulation, and that was a 3-2 loss to Saginaw. Brantford on a 6 game point streak. Mississauga is a dangerous young team.

Then a home-and-home with Saginaw next week who seems to be rolling now.

Let's see what the boys can do.

 

[DeletedAccountt]

Unwavering winger worthy of praise - Soo Greyhounds

The third-year player has three goals and four assists over his last six games.

chl.ca

 

[East Avenue Bully]

Next 5 games will all be tough. Erie, Brantford, Mississauga this week. Erie is playing some great hockey of late, only losing 1 of their last 7 in regulation, and that was a 3-2 loss to Saginaw.

No, sir.

Erie lost 10-3 vs Kitchener, in Kitchener last night.

 

[HockeyPops]

No, sir.

Erie lost 10-3 vs Kitchener, in Kitchener last night.

It was quite true when posted. And the gist of the post is still true. Erie started their young backup goalie and the team did not rally behind him. But they are still a team that cannot be taken lightly.

 

[HockeyPops]

The early success that teams like Kitchener, Peterborough, North Bay are having this year compared to preseason favourites Owen Sound, Sudbury, Kingston, got me thinking again about how important experience is to a contender. I think most posters here agree that even this Soo team seems to be lacking something this year. It's hard to cobble together a contender from the bones of a team that didn't have much success the year before. True, Peterborough did it last year - but they almost didn't. They only started clicking as a team at the 11th hour. Look at Kitchener last year - they never were able to find their mojo. But this year they have it in spades. You can't rush a group of players into making a team. It takes time. I am concerned that this Soo team might suffer the same fate.

Will this Greyhound team come together in time to truly contend this year, after missing the playoffs last year?

 

[Houndzfan20]

The early success that teams like Kitchener, Peterborough, North Bay are having this year compared to preseason favourites Owen Sound, Sudbury, Kingston, got me thinking again about how important experience is to a contender. I think most posters here agree that even this Soo team seems to be lacking something this year. It's hard to cobble together a contender from the bones of a team that didn't have much success the year before. True, Peterborough did it last year - but they almost didn't. They only started clicking as a team at the 11th hour. Look at Kitchener last year - they never were able to find their mojo. But this year they have it in spades. You can't rush a group of players into making a team. It takes time. I am concerned that this Soo team might suffer the same fate.

Will this Greyhound team come together in time to truly contend this year, after missing the playoffs last year?

Good post Pops.
I can't see it honestly. There's too many pieces needed. Our 06s/07s are a strong group. I'd rather build around them. That's just me. And I've been saying the same thing for months. But we are in one of those years, like the year we had kerins and kartye where we have a good team with a good nucleus, but not a great team that imo is good enough to win. Sooner or later we have to commit to a sell or we'll continue to be just good enough to win one round of playoff hockey.

 

[HockeyPops]

That 21/22 team with Kerins and Kartye had a dynamite first line, but fell off quickly from there if memory serves.

Forwards over 0.5 pts/gm:
Pts/GM, Name
1.76 Kerins
1.34 Dickinson
1.25 Kartye
1.23 MacKay
0.87 Watson
0.72 McConnell-Barker
0.57 Savard

Defense over 0.5 pts/gm:
Pts/GM, Name
0.90 O'Rourke
0.88 Thompson
0.86 Calisti
0.57 Kudryavtsev

Current 23/24 Team

Forwards over 0.5 pts/gm:
Pts/GM, Name
1.19 Beck
0.95 Allard
0.95 Mignosa
0.90 McConnell-Barker
0.86 Cloutier
0.67 D'Intino
0.62 Hayes
0.60 Sirizzotti
0.53 Clattenburg

Defense over 0.5 pts/gm:
Pts/GM, Name
1.10 Karki
0.95 Kudryavtsev
0.71 Gibson
0.50 Evans

This year's team is much more balanced in the scoring so far, and this defense is actually outscoring the 21/22 team slightly even with O'Rourke, Thompson, Calisti on it. The problem is a lack of a real top line.

Can BMB elevate his game? Allard is currently outscoring, and if I can be honest, outplaying BMB at both ends of the ice. I'm not even all that bothered at his faceoff % because he is so responsible defensively.

I don't think the answer is to demote BMB and bring in a new top line center. We don't really have the resources to do that plus make the one or two other moves necessary on the back end. The success of this team will hinge on whether or not BMB can elevate his game. Right now though, I'm not sure he has convinced me that he is close to doing so.

However, BMB has quietly put together a 9 game point streak (11 points over that stretch). So maybe I am wrong.

 

[Fischhaber]

That second period was really something. It was our best period all year in my opinion. I hope to see more of that.

 

[HockeyPops]

Hasn't been so far in the third

 

[HockeyPops]

That Sirizzotti penalty in the offensive zone in a tied game with a tired Erie team on the ice might have been the worst penalty I have seen all year.

 

[HockeyPops]

Brady Martin looked great in the 3rd period, and Cloutier backchecking hard all game. But not much else happening after the 2nd period for the Hounds. Got a point. Extended BMB point streak. Move on.

 

[DeletedAccountt]

 

[HockeyPops]

It's great work by Jacob. Gerry Liscumb Jr. Had him on the show maybe a month ago to talk about this.

 

[mag1600]

Go figure, we cannot beat Erie and the Kitchener Rangers destroyed them a few nights ago. With this very inconsistent play I don't think we can compete with the London Knights or Kitchener Rangers this year.
I would say that overall so far this year, I am somewhat disappointed in Bryce MBarker and Andrew Gibson. Given their age and experience, they should be making more of an impact on this hockey team.
Dean and the players always acknowledge what they are doing wrong but they NEVER correct it.

 

[RangerNation]

Go figure, we cannot beat Erie and the Kitchener Rangers destroyed them a few nights ago. With this very inconsistent play I don't think we can compete with the London Knights or Kitchener Rangers this year.
I would say that overall so far this year, I am somewhat disappointed in Bryce MBarker and Andrew Gibson. Given their age and experience, they should be making more of an impact on this hockey team.
Dean and the players always acknowledge what they are doing wrong but they NEVER correct it.

Just to note, Erie didn't play Ben Gaudreau on Tuesday against Kitchener (no idea why not) and kept their BUG in for all 10 goals. Erie also played a great home game against London last Sunday and won 4-2. It's junior hockey, any team can win on any given night. Ask Petes fans.