Played on Mar 4, 2026
Game Played in Dort Financial Center
General Game Notes: March 4, 2026 – The Soo Greyhounds visited the Flint Firebirds in a tightly contested matchup. Both teams traded chances throughout the game but were unable to settle things in regulation. A balanced attack was evident on the scoresheet for both sides, but it was Carter George (#32) who ultimately made the difference, stopping 40 shots to propel the Greyhounds to a 4-3 shootout victory.
Christopher Thibodeau (C, R, 5’9″, 167, Flint Firebirds, 10/13/2005, Lindenwood)
Game Rating
B-
1 Viewing
Comments: Thibodeau is a speedy forward who uses his skating to attack defenders off the rush. He’s effective at driving wide before cutting into the middle of the ice, allowing him to generate quality looks and create chances from the slot area. Throughout the game, he made several strong plays with the puck and consistently used his speed to push the pace offensively. He was particularly noticeable in overtime, where his skating allowed him to carry pucks up the ice and create odd-man rush opportunities.
Jimmy Lombardi (C, L, 6’0″, 187, Flint Firebirds, 02/16/2007, Michigan)
Game Rating
B+
Lombardi’s performance showcased his speed and energy as he drove the offense with his quick movements and aggressive playstyle. His ability to create separation from defenders through his first step allowed him to capitalize on loose pucks and generate scoring chances. He effectively used his pace to get open in dangerous areas and release the puck quickly, demonstrating his accuracy and confidence in finishing opportunities. His compete level was a key factor in his game, as he consistently arrived first in contested areas, won races, and turned those retrievals into quality chances. His ability to find loose pucks and capitalize on them was also notable. While there is room for improvement, Lombardi’s overall skill set demonstrates his value as a skilled two-way centerman.
1 Viewing
Comments: Lombardi is a highly skilled forward who plays with poise and consistently makes plays under pressure. While he’s effective at five-on-five, he truly shines on the power play, where his vision and puck poise stand out. He can weave in and out of traffic while maintaining possession, patiently waiting for open teammates and scoring opportunities to develop. He elevates those around him by winning puck battles and using his reach and speed to protect and extend possessions. With high-end hockey IQ and offensive skill, Lombardi has the ability to both finish plays himself and create dangerous scoring chances for his teammates. On multiple occasions, plays that appeared to be dead ended with Lombardi threading a tape-to-tape pass to a teammate in a backdoor scoring position.
Kevin He (LW, L, 5’11”, 188, Flint Firebirds, 04/30/2006)
Game Rating
B+
This player is a formidable force in the offensive zone, consistently demonstrating excellent puck control and vision. He uses small, precise stick-handling moves to evade checks and maintain possession of the puck, even in tight spaces. His ability to read the play and make quick decisions allows him to create scoring opportunities for himself and his teammates.
1 Viewing
Comments: He has the ability to beat defenders one-on-one largely because of his skating. His first step is explosive, allowing him to be even with a defender before turning on the jets and driving past them to the net. For that reason, he’s particularly effective attacking off the rush. He also owns a quick release and can get shots off in stride, making him difficult to read while consistently getting pucks through to the net and creating chaos around the crease. Another positive element of his game was his willingness to get to the net during five-on-five zone play. He repeatedly attacked the slot area to track down loose pucks, showing a willingness to play in hard areas rather than staying on the perimeter.
Luka Graziano (D, R, 5’9″, 159, Flint Firebirds, 10/24/2007, Harvard)
Game Rating
B-
Graziano is a physically driven player who consistently brings energy to the rink. He’s not afraid to engage in battles for the puck, using his body checks to separate opponents from possession. When in possession of the puck, he’s a competent mover who can quickly advance play with short, accurate passes that facilitate his team’s transition. His skating is also an asset, allowing him to effectively close gaps, defend, and make plays on offense.
1 Viewing
Comments: Graziano is a skilled right-shot defenseman who is very comfortable with the puck on his stick. While he isn’t necessarily known as a shutdown defender, he plays a smart game and helps limit time spent in the defensive zone thanks to his ability to collect pucks and move them efficiently up the ice. His puck-moving ability allows him to start clean breakouts and quickly transition play. When the opportunity presents itself, he’s also capable of jumping into the rush as a second wave of offense, showing confidence and offensive instincts. Graziano is effective on the power play as well, often acting as the quarterback up top. From there, he distributes the puck well, letting plays develop and moving pucks quickly to his teammates to help generate scoring chances.
Darian Anderson (RW, R, 6’2″, 191, Flint Firebirds, 12/22/2006, Clarkson)
Game Rating
B+
1 Viewing
Comments: Anderson plays a simple, no-frills, hard-nosed game. He’s not going to over-handle the puck; instead, he consistently makes smart, effective plays that help generate offense. He positions himself well and uses his size and strength to his advantage, winning puck battles, establishing body position, and getting to the net.He generated several quality looks, particularly on the power play where he was effective working in tight around the net front. He ultimately capitalized on a second-chance opportunity in the blue paint, showing his ability to stay around the crease and finish plays. Overall, Anderson profiles as a classic power-forward type – a big body who gets to the hard areas, wins battles, and creates scoring chances at the net front with a combination of size, strength, and a sneaky offensive skill set.
Nathan Aspinall (LW, L, 6’6″, 206, Flint Firebirds, 03/30/2006)
Game Rating
A-
Aspinall displayed a well-rounded skill set that made him a dominant force on the ice. He consistently challenged opponents, creating space to shoot and score. His ability to win battles along the boards allowed him to extend plays in the offense zone and create scoring opportunities. Aspinall also demonstrated confidence with his hands, able to shield pucks from defenders and quickly move them past opponents. Additionally, he drove play with authority, making smart decisions in transition and consistently applying pressure on the opposition.
1 Viewing
Comments: Aspinall possesses an extremely high skill set for a player with his size and power-forward profile. He plays with pace and uses his long reach effectively to disrupt plays in both the neutral and defensive zones, quickly turning those turnovers into offensive opportunities. Big and strong, he’s difficult to contain and consistently leans on defenders, making it a challenge to play against him shift after shift. In the third period, he pushed the puck up ice to create an odd-man rush. He initially lowered his shoulder as if he was going to drive the net, drawing defenders toward him, before eluding the coverage and sliding a perfect backdoor pass to his teammate for a tap-in goal. It was a perfect example of the type of player he is – big, strong, skilled, and incredibly difficult to contain.
Jacob Battaglia (RW, L, 6’1″, 202, Flint Firebirds, 03/17/2006)
Game Rating
B
1 Viewing
Comments: Battaglia is a skilled, dynamic forward with a dangerous shot and a natural nose for the net. He shows legitimate scoring instincts by consistently finding soft spots in coverage and getting quick-release shots off before defenders can close. He’s confident with the puck, maintaining control rather than forcing plays or throwing it away blindly, which highlights his poise and offensive IQ. He also presents a dual threat as both a playmaker and a shooter, making him difficult to defend. Battaglia showcased that offensive awareness on one sequence where he drove the back post and finished a backdoor pass without hesitation, burying the opportunity for a well-earned goal.
Carter George (G, L, 6’1″, 188, Soo Greyhounds, 05/20/2006)
Game Rating
A-
Carter George is a reliable presence in goal, providing his team with confidence through his calm and balanced play. He moves efficiently laterally to track cross-ice plays, making difficult saves look routine. George’s puck-handling ability allows him to disrupt opposing forechecks and help limit zone time for his team. His strong rebound control limits second-chance opportunities, while his steady demeanor sets the tone for those in front of him.
1 Viewing
Comments: George is a technically sound goaltender who skates well, exudes confidence in his save selections, and commands a big presence in the net. He positions himself at the top of the blue paint, sets his feet, and makes difficult saves look routine. He battles through traffic, maintains sight-lines on the puck, and swallows up shots to limit second-chance opportunities. Calm and composed, he handles the posts effectively and transitions smoothly from RVH to his feet to stay square and challenge shooters, particularly on cross-ice plays. While fundamentally sound, he can also sell out for athletic saves when needed, making him difficult to beat. George turned aside 40 shots against Flint, proving to be the deciding factor in the Greyhounds’ victory.
Lukas Fischer (D, L, 6’3″, 183, Soo Greyhounds, 09/09/2006)
Game Rating
B
Lukas Fischer is known for his intelligent playmaking and poise under pressure. He maintains control of the puck in all situations, making smart plays that allow the team to execute efficient transitions from defense to offense. As the quarterback on the power play, he directs traffic with excellent vision and finds seams in the opponent’s defense to create high-quality chances. Fischer’s ability to quickly process the game and distribute the puck with precision makes him a steady presence on the back end. He is able to find opportunities for his teammates and contribute to the team’s overall puck movement.
1 Viewing
Comments: Fischer is a smooth-skating defenseman who possesses a long, effortless stride. He can break pucks out of his own end simply by skating them out himself, but he also shows strong vision and the ability to make crisp outlet passes to start the transition game. His confidence carrying the puck into the offensive zone and holding onto it long enough to make the right play is impressive. For example, on a play in the second period, he wheeled out of the zone, showing off his efficient edge-work before waiting just long enough for a seam to open. He then zipped a perfect pass to a teammate at the backdoor in the slot, ringing a shot off the crossbar. It was a small example of the offensive instincts he brings to the game. Defensively, he remains reliable thanks to his skating ability and active stick, allowing him to close gaps effectively and disrupt plays.
Jeremy Martin (F, L, 6’0″, 181, Soo Greyhounds, 02/06/2007)
Game Rating
B-
1 Viewing
Comments: Martin is a big, competitive winger who plays a direct north-south game built on speed, forechecking pressure, and physical engagement. He consistently wins puck battles, drives the net, and generates offense from hard areas. While he isn’t an overly flashy player, he showed his offensive ability on one standout sequence. After collecting the puck in the neutral zone, he attacked the defender head-on and unleashed a laser of a shot that beat the goaltender clean, using the defender as a screen.
Travis Hayes (RW, R, 5’11”, 176, Soo Greyhounds, 09/03/2007)
Game Rating
B
Hayes is known for his effective use of shooting as a primary means of creating scoring chances. He has a quick release and can generate significant power behind his shots, making him a threat around the net.
1 Viewing
Comments: Hayes does many of the little things right that contribute to the success of his game. He hunts pucks in all three zones and shows a genuine willingness to win battles along the boards and in traffic. He keeps his feet moving on the forecheck, creating turnovers, and has the instinct to immediately funnel pucks toward the crease or net-front area. On Soo’s second goal, for example, he recovered a puck below the goal line and used strong body positioning to push it to the net front, where his teammate was able to whack in the loose puck. His game is straightforward and effective. He may not wow you with high-end skill, but he brings plenty of intangibles and consistently plays the game the right way.
Jakub Winkelhofer (D, L, 6’2″, 185, Soo Greyhounds, 01/12/2007)
Game Rating
B-
Winkelhofer brings a consistent two-way approach to his team’s game, showcasing his skills through movement and positioning on the ice. He excels at controlling space with the puck, frequently beating his defender wide and exploiting open areas. In his own end, Winkelhofer demonstrates reliability, holding a secure gap and maintaining good positioning. His stick handling allows him to disrupt opponents’ plays effectively. With poise, mobility, and awareness, he can make an impact in all three zones of the game.
1 Viewing
Comments: Winkelhofer is rock solid on the back end. He’s not flashy and doesn’t overcomplicate his game, often opting to make simple, effective plays rather than forcing something that isn’t there. With the puck, he keeps things straightforward and moves it efficiently to maintain possession and relieve pressure. Without the puck, he uses his size to his advantage. He doesn’t allow much to get by him, consistently forcing attackers wide while using his active stick and long reach to disrupt plays and break up chances around the net-front area.
Justin Cloutier (RW, R, 5’8″, 187, Soo Greyhounds, 06/20/2005, Arizona State)
Game Rating
B
1 Viewing
Comments: Justin Cloutier creates a lot of offense with his speed and his ability to constantly push the pace. Whether off the rush or in the offensive zone, he keeps his feet moving and remains engaged, disrupting plays even when he doesn’t have the puck. He has a knack for generating clean entries, holding onto pucks under pressure, and forcing defenders back before making the right play. His ability to track down loose pucks and skate onto them with speed is impressive, and he’s capable of either getting shots to the net or finding teammates in dangerous scoring areas.
Marco Mignosa (RW, R, 5’11”, 172, Soo Greyhounds, 04/13/2005)
Game Rating
B
Mignosa showcased his ability to create plays with the puck, often navigating tight spaces with ease while maintaining speed and control. His poise in traffic allowed him to corral pucks and set up scoring opportunities. He demonstrated good vision on entries, frequently finding open teammates or creating space to shoot. However, Mignosa’s defensive play was inconsistent, with moments of being lost in coverage leading to goals against. While his offense is a notable strength, he will need to address defensive lapses to take his game to the next level.
1 Viewing
Comments: Mignosa picked off a puck on the forecheck in the slot with impressive hand-eye coordination. Without hesitation, he unleashed a laser with a quick release that beat the goaltender low glove, post and in. The release was explosive, and the combination of power and accuracy on the shot looked pro-level. With time and space, he’s dangerous. He also showed a consistent ability to get pucks to the net from all angles, whether attacking off the rush or working in the offensive zone. With a clear shoot-first mentality, Mignosa looks to funnel pucks toward the crease, creating chaos in the net-front and forcing defenders and goaltenders to react.
Brady Martin (C, R, 6’0″, 186, Soo Greyhounds, 01/01/2007)
Game Rating
B
1 Viewing
Comments: Martin’s ability to impact the game on both sides of the puck is impressive. He’s committed to playing the right way, rarely cheating the game or selling out for offense. Instead, he reloads into his own end with purpose, consistently stopping on pucks and competing to win battles. He shows a strong understanding of when to make the simple play and when to attempt a more difficult one, particularly in his own zone when under pressure. Offensively, he’s a difficult player to contain due to his ability to lean on opponents and get to the hard areas with or without the puck. Martin wins his share of puck battles and is capable of controlling play when he has possession. His offensive approach is direct and effective – getting on loose pucks, driving the net, and making plays in tight spaces.
Photo credit: Dan Hickling/Hickling Images