Photo courtesy of Jim Egan Sports Photography

SAULT STE. MARIE, ON -
With one win and two losses this OHL pre-season, the Soo Greyhounds returned home on Saturday Night against the visiting Saginaw Spirit.

The Hounds 2012 CHL Import Draft selection SERGEY TOLCHINSKY would make his Hounds debut and was sure to leave the fans buzzing early-on.

Just under two minutes in Tolchinsky stepped in off the left wing but would back hand the puck wide of the net of Jake Paterson.  Michael Schumacher followed up on the play with two attempts but couldn't beat the Spirit netminder.

The Hounds continued the pressure as minutes later DYLAN STAPLES fed DAVID BROLL in alone and he too would put the puck wide on the Spirit goal.

From their the visitors would hold off the pressure and get the opening goal of the game.  An odd-man rush would see Garrett Ross provided the feed at the back door and would beat Hounds MATT MURRAY with Andrey Alexeev and Brandon Prophet picking up the assists.

The Hounds went to a powerplay shortly thereafter and would pull even on shots but couldn't pull the trigger on their first goal of the game.
Then with just over 7 minutes left in the period Tolchinsky was sent in on his second breakaway of the period but Paterson would close the bottom of the net to keep the Hounds scoreless after twenty-minutes.

Shots were even in the first period 10-10.

The Hounds started the second period on the man advantage but were unable to capitalize on the situation.
Just over 5 minutes in Saginaw increased their lead to a pair as Dylan Sadowy fired a shot stickside for the Spirit's 2-0 lead.

With Sam Povorozniouck in the box and the Hounds on the power-play RYAN SPROUL'S point shot would put the home side on the board and they cut into Saginaw's lead 2-1.

MATT MURRAY would keep his team within striking distance with just under six minutes left.  The Thunder Bay, ON product would first stop Terry Trafford and then put a remarkable pad stock on Eric Locke to keep the game close.
His teammates would nearly reward him as seconds later JARED MCCANN and ANDREW FRITSCH would go in on a 2-on-1 but Fritsch didn't get much on his low attempt to beat the Spirit netminder.

Then in the final 1:11 of the period the teams would combine for four goals to the end period.
Andrey Alexeev gave Saginaw a two goal cushion and then fifteen seconds later DYLAN STAPLES wacked at the puck on the doorstep to again pull the Hounds within a goal.

The Spirit's Justin Kea rifled the puck under the crossbar behind Murray with 45 seconds let in the period and then with 1 second remaining Vincent Trocheck's shot was just off the glove of Murray and in as the Spirit led 5-2 after two periods.

And after a nearly scoreless third period the Hounds would close the scoring.  MITCHELL DEMPSEY'S shot from the boards to Paterson's left appeared to go off something in front and in.

The Hounds fell to Saginaw 5-3, and finished the OHL pre-season with a 1 win, 3 loss record.

The 2012-13 OHL regular season is now around the corner for the Hounds as they will open the schedule up at home this coming Friday, September 21st versus the Plymouth Whalers.
Game time is 7:07 p.m. and tickets are available by stopping by the Essar Centre Box Office (Monday to Friday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.).

SCORING SUMMARY
1st Period
8:13 - SAG - Garret Ross from A. Alexeev and B. Prophet

2nd Period
5:53 - SAG - Dylan Sadowy from V. Trocheck
7:49 - SSM - Ryan Sproul from N. Cousins and A. Fritsch (PP)
18:49 - SAG - Andrey Alexeev from V. Trockeck and D. Young
19:04 - SSM - 9 Dylan Staples from M. Schumacher
19:15 - SAG - 9 Justin Kea (Unassisted)
19:59 - SAG - 89 Vincent Trocheck from S. Strong

3rd Period
18:11 - SSM - Mitchell Dempsey from N. Cousins

SHOTS
SSM - 10-15-9=34
SAG - 10-14-10 = 34

SCORE
SSM - 0-2-1=3
SAG - 1-4-0=5