Photo Credit: Freeze Frame Photos
With just three points separating them atop the GNU18HL standings, the second-place Soo U18 Greyhounds and first-place North Bay U18 Trappers delivered a high-intensity, playoff-like weekend series on Saturday, January 3rd and Sunday, January 4th in Sault Ste. Marie. The back-to-back AAA matchups lived up to expectations, showcasing speed, special teams, and momentum swings between the league’s top two clubs.
In Game One, the Greyhounds jumped out early with first-period goals from Anthony Spironello and Frankie Reda to build a 2–0 lead before North Bay’s Francis Popkie cut the deficit late in the frame. Soo responded with a dominant second period, striking three times on the powerplay, including goals from Makks Demidovich, Finlay Carlson, and Nico Bossio, while Jackson Thornton added an even-strength marker to give the Greyhounds a commanding 6–2 lead after forty minutes. The Trappers pushed back in the third with three straight powerplay goals to make it a one-goal game, but Dreyon Boissoneau sealed the 7–5 Soo victory with an empty-net goal. North Bay was forced to make an early goaltending change after Carson Ruddy exited with an injury, while Sebastien Brassard handled duties for the Greyhounds.
Sunday morning’s rematch saw North Bay respond with urgency. The Greyhounds took a 2–0 lead in the opening period on goals from Liam Clark and Jackson Thornton, but the Trappers answered with three unanswered goals late in the first to take a 3–2 advantage. After a scoreless second period, North Bay extended the lead early in the third with a goal from Liam Starcevic before Soo’s Nico Bossio brought the Greyhounds within one on the powerplay. The Trappers closed out the 5–3 win with a late goal from Cedar Montreuil, earning a weekend split.
Trapper coach Josh Dale told Saultsports that “I thought we played well both games, well enough to win both. We have been focusing on playing consistently and I think for the most part we did. We just need to have better starts. Sault Ste Marie has a great team and is led by a great coach in Jeremy Stevenson. I think the reffing was much better the second game and both teams played hard. If I had to pick one team in our league to break our winning streak it would definitely be them. Looking forward to meeting them in the playoffs and seeing them in Peterborough. Our job as coaches at this level is to develop players and get them ready for the next level. You can tell both our teams are on the right track in doing that.”
I think it was an all around great hockey weekend. It was two good teams battling like it’s playoffs. We played extremely hard both games and the games could have gone either way. It’s a great way to start the New Year,” added coach Stevenson of the Soo.
Check out Freeze Frame Photos by Bob Davies photo gallery of the Soo U18 Greyhounds versus North Bay U18 Trappers in GNU18HL action.
The Greyhounds return to action on Friday, January 9th when they host the Thunder Bay Kings with puck drop set for 6:00 p.m. The Trappers will next face the Kapuskasing Flyers in North Bay on the same day at 2:30 p.m.
