Hounds battling adversity to stay in hunt for playoff spot after trading top star

[LastOneUp 160]

The Mississauga Hounds are battling adversity to stay in hunt for playoff spot after trading their top star to the #1 team in the league. They did acquire a first and second round pick for the team leader in points, so the return will be worth it in the long run. It seems obvious @Berocka does not think it is the Hounds time. Or maybe he thinks it's time for his youngsters to step up with more opportunity.

 

The Mississauga Hounds have remained in the race for a spot in the VHLM Playoffs by latching onto one idea since the start of training camp: Staying in the fight.

 

Despite a revamped defenseman group and injury issues throughout the season, the Hounds are 4 points behind Halifax for the last playoff spot as of Tuesday.

 

"We have one of the youngest teams in the League, and there have been some points in the season where (normally) ... there would be some hard meetings and hard practices, but we just don't have the ability to do that," said assistant captain Michael Mac, who has 38 points (13 goals, 25 assists) in 41 games this season. "So I think we've done a really good job of trying to teach and trying to get the most out of everyone and trying to empower as many guys as we can so that we've got a lineup full of guys that feel they're involved in the game and involved in us pushing for a playoff spot.

 

"I don't think I can count the easy days on one hand because there haven't been any. There haven't been any lollipops [and sunshine]. It's been a really challenging year for a lot of different reasons."

 

After Mississauga qualified for the postseason in S69, finishing 2nd overall with 117 points, its chances seemed to take a hit that offseason with practically all of its top players moving on. Then, yesterday, on April 13 @Da_Berr Andrew Su was traded to the Ottawa Lynx.

 

Once the season began, the odds grew larger, with Mississauga losing currently in the middle of losing 8 of its last 9 games. An awful stretch in any league. Many against the elite teams were never close, ending in blowout fashion.

 

Belief has remained, Mac said.

 

"We haven't turned our backs on each other," he said. "We haven't pointed fingers. Even after the stretch where we were losing a lot of games, we just keep having beers together, doing things together, staying in it together, chilling in the Discord and ultimately that builds some equity at the end of the season when it's hardest."

 

The Hounds dropped out of playoff position when they lost five in a row, but are still only 4 points out.

 

Instead of having a high-profile group of defensemen making frequent highlight-reel plays, the Hounds have become more workmanlike out of necessity, defenseman Albert Stoner said.

 

"As a function of some of our lost players and obviously some changes to our blue line, we've had to battle for every inch we've gotten," said Stoner. "Nothing's been given to us. In past years maybe we could sort of win some nights just off our skill. We still have a ton of skill in our room, but that's just not the way you play if you want to win games.

 

"Perhaps a good lesson for a pretty young group."

 

Mississauga will need those lessons for its remaining games. The next is against San Diego on Tuesday.

 

"It's a little bit different team than last year," said forward @JBrew42, who has 40 points in 43 games. "With the guys we have here and with all the injuries we have, we've tried to grow more as a team, and it's definitely something that's kept us in the fight.

 

"We've played [like it's] the playoffs for the last couple of weeks at least and it's not going to get any easier. All the other teams above the line are winning, too. So just try to grind it and hopefully make it, but it won't be easy."

 

But having overcome the adversity this long, the Hounds are driven by the possibility of reaching the postseason, Mac said.

 

"It's right there for us," he said. "There's a lot of excitement in our room about having an opportunity. We have a lot to play for."