Greyhounds battle through day two

The second day of training camp is in the books for the Soo Greyhounds and coach Craig Hartsburg is pleased with the way things have transpired so far.

Hartsburg said following a late-afternoon scrimmage that he was pleased with the pace of the scrimmage, won 6-3 by Team Red.

“I thought at times it was pretty good and at times it slowed down but I think everybody worked hard,” said Hartsburg. “They battled pretty good and there was some good things there.”

The scrimmage was capped off when Team Black was put through a gruelling skating drill for being on the losing end of the scrimmage. For each scrimmage game this year, the losing team in the scrimmage is put through a skating drill immediately following the game.

“Both teams tried to play like a team,” said Hartsburg. “It was fun, and very competitive. The black team found out losing sucks. In every scrimmage aside from the Red and White game they’ll skate after. It’ll be very competitive and reward the winners.”

The scrimmage also gave Greyhounds coaches and management a chance to look at their goaltending situation a little more closer. With overage netminder Kyle Gajewski penciled in as the starter, the backup position is being battled for between free agent John Nauta and Hounds draft picks Jeff Larson and Bryce O’Hagen.

“(All four goaltenders) were good and certainly O’Hagen was really good in the shootout,” said Hartsburg. “(Nauta’s) big and he’s a pretty good athlete for a big kid. We’ll just have to wait and see how it goes. They know there’s a spot open right now.”

**** HOUND BITES: Some interesting notes regarding the free agents brought into training camp from out-of-town. Goaltender John Nauta was brought in from Florida for the camp and was sharp during Thursday’s scrimmage. Defenceman Drew Otto hails from Michigan and could spend the season with the NOJHL’s Soo Thunderbirds. Forward Colton Thornton has a familiar last name for Greyhounds fans. His bloodlines also have Greyhounds ties as his older brother Cody suited up for the Greyhounds last season.