Hey all! I hope you had a wonderful holiday and a Happy New Year. Some big moves happened last week for the Red & White. With the dust settled, Kyle Raftis completed 3 trades over the course of the trade deadline season which saw 3 forwards and 8 draft picks on the move in exchange for 3 new forwards, deemed to be essential in the upcoming playoff run. The trio of deals were as follows:
SSM Received: FLNT Received:
Gavin Hayes (F) Connor Clattenburg (F)
Alex Kostov (F)
3rd Round selection 2025
5th Round selection 2025
4th Round selection 2026
2nd Round selection 2027
SSM Received: BAR Received:
Jacob Frasca (OA/F) Brenden Sirizzotti (OA/F)
8th Round selection 2024 2nd Round selection 2024
4th Round selection 2025
3rd Round selection 2026
SSM Received: GUE Received:
Justin Dezeote (F) 10th Round selection 2025
The Gavin Hayes and Jacob Frasca hit me super hard on Sunday evening, as I’m sure it did for most Hounds fans. I was shocked and experienced mixed feelings about the two big moves. I really enjoyed all 3 players the Greyhounds gave up, especially the energy of Connor Clattenburg (my favourite player, personally). I understand there are a multitude of opinions from fans, me included, especially after two worryingly flat performances this past weekend. The fact remains, the deals are done. The players the Greyhounds gave up are gone. The new players are here for good. This roster of 23 is the group that will be making the push. I am here to discuss the players Raftis brought in and how they can hopefully find their footing and become key pieces to this club.
NEW FACES
JUSTIN DEZEOTE
Pronounced Deh-zoat (at least as far as I know). Dezeote is a 19-year-old forward, a potential overager from next season and more of a veteran, depth, addition in contrast to Frasca and Hayes. He is a former 2nd round pick of Peterborough in 2020 and has never really seemed to find a scoring touch in Major Junior. He had only 22 points in 68 games in 2022-2023 and had managed only 3 points, 1 goal in 30 games between Mississauga and Guelph this season. Truthfully, not a lot to go on! A name that I did not recognize, that is for sure.
In his first two games for the Greyhounds, he did manage an assist. He looked a little uncomfortable (new team, new system, new teammates), however the most notable part of his game was his speed. I notably remember a dump and bank passing play that resulted in DeZeote blowing by his defensive opponent and winning the icing race. If he can solidify himself as a solid defensive player on this team, that would play a huge role and improve his playing time moving forward.
JACOB FRASCA
The Greyhounds received Overager Jacob Frasca from Barrie in exchange for Overager Brenden Sirizzotti, to remain within the 3 overager rule the OHL allows. A former 3 round selection in 2019, Frasca spent his entire career with the Barrie Colts. He was a PPG player last year and experienced a lengthy playoff run, where he put up 10 points in 13 games. Only managing to suit up in 17 games this season due to injury, he could be still struggling to find his midseason form as well as dealing with the factors of a completely different environment. Early observations of Frasca from my point of view are that he presents much skill and size. A surprising trade for me, Sirizzotti played such a critical role in December with the absence of Allard, Karki and BMB, I figured our overagers were safe. It is too early to tell, as he also looked a little lost during his play last weekend. He remains a key addition to this team, hopefully he can find his game enough to be a reliable second line forward.
GAVIN HAYES
One of the big fish in the OHL pond that Kyle Raftis reeled in, that saw him use key parts of his tackle box. The absence of Clattenburg and Kostov was very evident in last weekends’ play, Flint acquired two very effective power forwards that are poised for a contending run next season. However, you must give a lot to get a lot and Hayes is the real deal. A Chicago Blackhawks 3rd Rounder and fresh off a gold medal with Team USA at the WJC. He had 117 points in his last 73 OHL games before arriving in the Sault and put up 4 points in 2 games for the Red & White. While his capabilities in the defensive zone are a challenge, he makes up for it in the offensive zone. He is quick, shifty, and dangerous and will be very fun to watch as he finds his identity in the Sault.
Much like Frasca, Hayes has only known one system in the OHL. Therefore, it will take time and work to get more acquainted with the unique system the Greyhounds run.
WEEKEND WOES
This past weekend delivered some adversity to the team. A weekend split saw the Greyhounds play their worst hockey of the year, in my opinion. Their game looked completely upside down. They were outshot, outworked, and overpowered in the defensive side of the ice. Passes went awry, questionable decision making with the puck and a lot of players taking the role of passenger. Frustrated, confused, lost are some words I would use to describe the play. Without the outstanding puck stopping of Charlie Schenkel, both games would have turned ugly.
While excuses are never valid, I will present the following FACTS that could determine the reasoning behind the play. Along with the departure and arrival of 3 key players each way, Owen Allard and Arttu Karki returned to the lineup after being away at the WJC for a month and a half. Essentially, these are 5 of the 20 players who were required to adjust their game in just under a week’s time. Not to mention, the style of play of Kostov and Clattenburg differ immensely from the style of play of Frasca and Hayes AND the Hounds were still without their captain and #1 center Bryce McConnell-Barker. These are massive adjustments that take time to work out, from a coaching standpoint as well.
Now, I’m not discounting the play of North Bay and Guelph either. They had to deal with the same problems this weekend and both teams played exceptionally well. North Bay deserved the 2 points they received, and Guelph did not deserve their regulation loss. In taking all these facts into account, for the first time this season the Greyhounds looked a step behind the better teams in the OHL. It is up to them to find their new identity and push back, to achieve what they are gunning for: a long, hopeful playoff run.
UPCOMING GAMES: Include this Thursday and Friday evening at Windsor and Sarnia before returning Sunday to the Sault for an afternoon game against the Erie Otters. Looking ahead the Greyhounds have two huge games to finish off January. The 26th sees Kitchener skate into the Soo and the 31st sees the Soo travel to Saginaw to take on the newly loaded up (again lol) Saginaw Spirit. **NOTE as well that the 31st game against Saginaw will be broadcasted on TSN.