Hounds suffer heartbreak on opening night

Unfortunately it might be a night the Soo Greyhounds may want to forget.

After the buzz over the first ever Greyhound game at the beautiful Steelback Centre was over, the locals found themselves on the losing end of a 2-1 game with the Sudbury Wolves.

In a heartbreaker, the Wolves scored with 57 seconds remaining in regulation time to break a 1-1 tie and skate away with the Ontario Hockey League win.

After Brandon MacLean's goal with 5:30 left in the third period tied the game for the Hounds and nearly lifted the roof off the Steelback Centre, MacLean was guilty of a giveaway deep in the Greyhounds zone which led to Devin DiDiomete finishing a pretty passing play from Jesse Messier and Nick Foligno.

Sudbury's Marc Staal scored the first ever goal at the Steelback on the game's first shot 31 seconds in as early mistakes cost the jittery Hounds.

Although the Greyhounds, who recorded 26 shots, held the Wolves to just 14 shots on goal, goaltender Kyle Gajewski was forced to come up with some key saves, especially in the second period.

Foligno and Messier picked up two assists each for the Wolves while Andrew Desjardins grabbed the lone assist on MacLean's goal.

Further details and reaction from coach Craig Hartsburg will be added.

*** GROWING PANES:

The Steelback opener was not without some stumbling blocks. The game was delayed three times for almost 10 minutes each occasion as workers scurried to repair panes of glass that continued to become loose in the south-west corner of the rink.

*** SOUNDS LIKE LESS THAN A SELL OUT?:

The announced crowd of 4,725 was indeed a sell out but complimentary tickets that were given out for the game were not counted towards the official paid attendance figures.

*** BIDDING FOR THE CUP:

Greyhounds owner Dr. Lou Lukenda stated in Wednesday's press conference that the team would be interested in throwing their name into the hat to host the Memorial Cup that will be held by the OHL in 2008.

*** THE BEST KEPT SECRET:

OHL Commissioner David Branch noted at the press conference that the 2008 all-star game was actually awarded to Sault Ste. Marie two years ago. Until today, word had not leaked out of the organization or the league as the announcement was being saved to coincide with the opening of the Steelback Centre.

*** MORE TO COME:

More details and stories from Wednesday's press conference with commissioner Branch and the Greyhounds owners will be published in the coming days.

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