Predators welcome back two familiar faces

Welcome back to Greener's Hockey Gossip! New season, new team, new attitude! Get the weekly scoop on Predators' gossip, league news and roster moves in my column every Friday, same time, same place!

First up, over the off-season, there are a few changes to play in the East Division.

The Bancroft Hawks have taken a leave of absence from the league and the Oswego Admirals moved to the south division of play. The East Division comprises eight teams: Wellington Dukes, Quinte Pack, Cobourg Cougars, Bowmanville Eagles, Peterborough Stars, Kingston Voyageurs, Lindsay Muskies and our Port Hope Predators. This year, only six of the teams will compete in the playoffs.

The Predators welcome the return of two former players to their line-up. Chad Dunlop (who spent last season with the Powel River Kings) and Nik Temple (whom we acquired from the Trenton Sting in the off-season) return for their second tour of duty with the club. Up front, expect new additions Ian DeLong, Jordan Wilson and Sean Bassingthwaite to carry the offensive load. The blue line will be anchored by three-year veterans Ben Finney and Temple and the twine tent will again be occupied by Jeff Potvin.

The Preds kicked off the season last Friday night at the Fishpond in Lindsay with a 5-2 victory over the Muskies. The power play went to work early for the Preds when Wilson found the net for the first of the season. The Muskies evened the game at one with a-man advantage in the first. The middle frame saw Dunlop return to the score sheet in a big way with a pair of markers to build a 3-2 lead after 40 for Port Hope. The third saw Potvin stand on his head while empty-net goals by Nathan Joy and Wilson put the victory on ice.

Saturday saw the home side put up a 3-2 overtime victory over the Peterborough Stars. The Preds jumped out to an early 2-0 lead on goals by Wilson and Finney. The second saw the Stars score two unanswered goals to even the game at 2-2. The third saw Peterborough miss a penalty shot late in the frame setting up the overtime heroics by Tyler Miller to seal a victory for the Preds.

Next home game - Saturday @ 7 p.m. vs. Quinte.

See ya at the rink!