Heartbroken: Hounds lose in overtime to end season

Despite a disappointing result for home fans, the final Ontario Hockey League game at the Memorial Gardens will certainly go down as a memorable one.

With the Gardens set to close its doors and make way for the new Sports and Entertainment Centre being built at the same location, the old building played host to its final OHL game on Tuesday night. The game was a 5-4 overtime loss by the Soo Greyhounds against the London Knights.

The Knights victory also ended the 2005-06 season for the Greyhounds as the Knights won the first round playoff series between the two clubs in four games.

David Bolland was the hero as he completed a hat trick with the overtime winner in the final minute of the first overtime period.

The goal, Bolland's eighth of the series, ended a strong game by the Greyhounds, who took the play to the Knights and seemed poised to cut the Knights series lead to 3-1 with a number of quality chances in the third period and in overtime.

Adam Perry added a pair of goals for the Knights in the victory while Andrew Desjardins had a pair of goals for the Greyhounds. Matt Lyall and Brandon MacLean had the other Greyhound markers.

The Knights looked poised to take the victory in comfortable fashion as they opened up a 3-0 lead thanks to Perry's two goals sandwiching Bolland's first. After Perry scored at 1:39 of the second period to make the score 3-0, Matt Lyall scored just 19 seconds later to help the Greyhounds back into the game.

Bolland gave the Knights the lead again at 5:49 of the third period, only to see Desjardins tie the score just 18 seconds later, setting the stage for Bolland's heroics in overtime.

The Greyhounds outshot the Knights 54-34, marking the third straight game in the series in which the Greyhounds led the way in that category.

"That's three games in a row that we played as good hockey as I think we can," said Hounds coach Craig Hartsburg. "I don't know if I could ask one more thing of that group of kids in there. Are we perfect? No, but I'll tell you what. Since Christmas, they are by far the hardest working group of kids in the Ontario Hockey League."

"This whole series they never quit," Hartsburg continued. "They were down 3-0 tonight and I don't know if there would have been another team in the league that would have just kept playing like they did. It's unfortunate because they did everything possible. They did everything they could to win the series. I really feel bad for that group of kids. They gave this city and this organization everything they could."

The overtime loss also marks the second straight season in which the Greyhounds were ousted from the playoffs with an overtime goal. Last season, John Scott Dickson scored 33 seconds into the second overtime as the Windsor Spitfires capped off a seventh game win for the Spitfires at the Gardens.

Hartsburg added that there was not much left to say to the players following the loss.

"All you can say to them is 'Thanks,'" said Hartsburg. "Could we have been better? Yeah, in certain things, but not in effort and caring."

Hartsburg added that he didn't feel as though the game was a loss.

"One of the things we talked about was that we weren't going to lose the last game in this building," said Hartsburg. "We didn't lose the game, London was London and they won the game."

With the victory, the defending-Memorial Cup champion Knights have some time to rest and prepare for their second round opponent, which has yet to be determined.

The game marked the final OHL contest for Greyhounds overage forward Ryan Kitchen. Some other veteran Greyhounds could find themselves moving on for next season are Cody Thornton, Tyler Kennedy, Jacob King, Andrew Desjardins, Alex Penner, Brad Good, and Matt Spezza are all 19-years-old. Three players from that group would be eligible to return to next years Greyhound squad as overage players.

Next up for the Greyhounds will be a look to the future as the OHL Draft is set for May 6.

*** AROUND THE OHL:

AT GUELPH: Ryan Callahan had two goals and two assists to lead the Guelph Storm to a 4-1 victory over the Saginaw Spirit. Matt D'Agostini added a goal and an assist in the victory. Patrick McNeill scored the lone Saginaw goal.

AT TORONTO: Travis Fuller, David Pszenyczny, Ryan Hamilton, and Bryan Little scored to lead the Barrie Colts to a 4-1 victory over the Toronto St. Michael's Majors. Majors goaltender Wayne Savage stopped 36 shots in the loss.

AT SUDBURY: Goaltender Kevin Beech stopped all 27 shots he faced as the Sudbury Wolves blanked the Kingston Frontenacs 2-0. Benoit Pouliot scored both Sudbury goals while Marc Staal added two assists in the win.

AT PLYMOUTH: Ryan Garlock and Bradley Snetsinger had a goal and an assist each as the Windsor Spitfires narrowly defeated the Plymouth Whalers by a 2-1 score. Wes Cunningham had the lone Plymouth goal.

*** OHL PLAYOFF TRACKER:

EASTERN CONFERENCE

Series "A" - PETERBOROUGH vs. OTTAWA (Peterborough leads series 2-1)

Game 1 - PETERBOROUGH 3, Ottawa 2 (2OT) Game 2 - OTTAWA 8, Peterborough 4 Game 3 - PETERBOROUGH 3, Ottawa 1 Wed., March 29 at Ottawa 7:00 Fri., March 31 at Peterborough 7:00* Sun., April 2 at Ottawa 2:00* Tues., April 4 at Peterborough 7:00*

Series "B" - Brampton vs. Belleville (Brampton leads series 2-1)

Game 1 - BRAMPTON 3, Belleville 2 (OT) Game 2 - Belleville 3, BRAMPTON 2 (OT) Game 3 - Brampton 3, BELLEVILLE 1 Wed., March 29 at Belleville 7:05 Fri., March 31 at Brampton 7:30 Sat., April 1 at Belleville 7:15* Tues., April 4 at Brampton 7:30*

Series "C" - BARRIE vs. TORONTO (Barrie wins series 4-0)

Game 1 - BARRIE 5, Toronto 4 (OT) Game 2 - Barrie 6, TORONTO 5 Game 3 - BARRIE 7, Toronto 5 Game 4 - Barrie 4, TORONTO 1

Series "D" - KINGSTON vs. SUDBURY (Sudbury leads series 2-1)

Game 1 - KINGSTON 5, Sudbury 3 Game 2 - Sudbury 4, KINGSTON 1 Game 3 - SUDBURY 2, Kingston 0 Wed., March 29 at Sudbury 7:30 Fri., March 31 at Kingston 7:30 Sun., April 2 at Sudbury 7:00* Tues., April 4 at Kingston 7:00*

WESTERN CONFERENCE - QUARTER-FINAL SERIES

Series "A" - LONDON vs. SAULT STE. MARIE (London wins series 4-0)

Game 1 - LONDON 6, Sault Ste. Marie 1 Game 2 - LONDON 6, Sault Ste. Marie 3 Game 3 - London 6, SAULT STE. MARIE 5 (OT) Game 4 - London 5, SAULT STE. MARIE 4 (OT)

Series "B" - PLYMOUTH vs. WINDSOR (Plymouth leads series 2-1)

Game 1 - PLYMOUTH 7, Windsor 4 Game 2 - Plymouth 4, WINDSOR 2 Game 3 - Windsor 2, PLYMOUTH 1 Thurs., March 30 at Windsor 7:30 Sat., April 1 at Plymouth 7:30 Sun., April 2 at Windsor 7:00* Tues., April 4 at Plymouth 7:30*

Series "C" - KITCHENER vs. OWEN SOUND (Owen Sound leads series 2-1)

Game 1 - Owen Sound 3, KITCHENER 2 Game 2 - OWEN SOUND 3, Kitchener 2 Game 3 - KITCHENER 4, Owen Sound 3 (2OT) Wed., March 29 at Owen Sound 7:00 Fri., March 31 at Kitchener 7:30* Sat., April 1 at Owen Sound 7:30* Mon., April 3 at Kitchener 7:00*

Series "D" - GUELPH vs. SAGINAW (Guelph leads series 3-0)

Game 1 - GUELPH 3, Saginaw 2 Game 2 - Guelph 4, SAGINAW 1 Game 3 - GUELPH 4, Saginaw 1 Thurs., March 30 at Saginaw 7:11 Sat., April 1 at Guelph 7:30* Sun., April 2 at Saginaw 6:00* Tues., April 4 at Guelph 7:00*

* Denotes if necessary games. Home Team in CAPS

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