Photo Credit: Freeze Frame Photos
Over the March 16th and 17th weekend in Sault Ste Marie, Ontario, the Soo Greyhounds hosted the Nickel City Sons in U15 hockey action to close out their regular season with three games.
Soo U15 Greyhound coach Dom Deluca told Saultsports that “It was great to clinch first place as it is was a goal of ours to try and repeat as regular season champions and then use that momentum to carry us into our playoffs in two weeks. We played a really solid first game and battled for that second win in OT but we talked about how we really did lack in terms of our energy and compete levels in game two and at times in game three. We had been playing very well going into the weekend and at this point of the season our expectations are greater and we need to be accountable when we are not playing to the level we can.
So with that being said, I’m super happy for the boys to get the regular season title, but we know we need to be much more in tune with the details of the game, and fight for every inch of ice. We have a wonderful group of players and they have made huge strides, so it’s natural for us to raise the bar and expect quality hockey from our group.”
“As for Adam, Deluca added that “he is the consummate leader, who works so hard at every practice. As a coach, I see him with his ears pinned every time I speak, and he wasn’t to soak in any message, lesson, compliment or advice I have for the team and himself. He is a big string kid who shows up at big moments and his teammates and our coaching staff love him. His winning the scoring title is a nice feather in his cap, and I know he would be quick to let people know that his teammates played a role in him attaining this achievement . He is just a really great kid, a respectful , highly intelligent person who is a coaches dream.
On the ice, he is a big strong power forward, with high hockey IQ and who can really shoot the puck . He’s so positionally sound and pays attention to details. Just a really quality human who I know will be successful in any future endeavours he takes on , be it as a hockey player or whatever he decides he wants to do.”
Deluca said that he would like to give a quick shout out to Tanner Carriere, one of our goalies, Tanner who finished atop the league in goals against average and save percentage. He’s another quality kid who has taken his game to a whole new level this season. He’s a cool, calm character in net and battles extremely hard every night! I’m super happy for him. He is a kid who’s worked hard over the past two seasons to improve his game and we know we have a real gamer in the pipes when he’s out there.
“Also, Ty Gendron ended third in league scoring and his game has really begun to flourish this past couple months. He’s exuding more confidence and making better decisions with the puck as well. He’s a big kid, with excellent skill and he has put the work in to become a 200 foot player and I’m super excited watching his game thrive. Ty is another quality kid and having him and Adam as co captains has been a blessing,” said Deluca.
Visit Freeze Frame Photos by Bob Davies photo gallery of the Nickel City Sons versus Soo Greyhounds in U15 action in Sault Ste Marie on Saturday, March 16th.
The U15 Greyhounds will now take part in the 2024 U15 AAA NOHA Tournament of Championships over the March 29th to 31st weekend in Sudbury with a round robin format with their first game on March 29th at 12:00 p.m against the Timmins Majors followed by their next opponents on March 30th with a start of time of 10:00 a.m against the Nickel City Sons along with their final round robin matchup at 5:00 p.m against the North Bay Trappers.
SUNDAY, MARCH 17TH (11:30 A.M)
NICKEL CITY SONS (4) @ (3) SOO GREYHOUNDS
1ST PERIOD
(1:24) SOO GREYHOUNDS – NATHAN WATTS (TY GENDRON/AJ CARBONE)
2ND PERIOD
(11:05) SOO GREYHOUNDS – ADAM PSZENICZNY (TY GENDRON)
(02:05) NICKEL CITY SONS – SAM PIETTE (TANNER MORRIS/ROBERT LANDRY)
(16:57) NICKEL CITY SONS – JANSSEN FRANSEN (HUNTER CURRIE)
(15:15) NICKEL CITY SONS – GILLIS O’DAISKEY (MIKAEL GUERIN/CARTER MCALLISTER)
(08:15) SOO GREYHOUNDS – ADAM PSZENICZNY (NATHAN WATTS/FINLEY ESCASA)
OVERTIME
(00:25) NICKEL CITY SONS – TY DUBREUIL (LANDEN LAKE-REGO)
GOALTENDERS
NICKEL CITY SONS – TYSON MCMAHON
SOO GREYHOUNDS – WILL FRANIC
SATURDAY, MARCH 16TH (7:30 P.M)
NICKEL CITY SONS (4) @ (5) SOO GREYHOUNDS
1ST PERIOD
(13:42) SOO JR. GREYHOUNDS – NATHAN WATTS (TY GENDRON)
2ND PERIOD
(14:20) SOO JR. GREYHOUNDS – NATHAN WATTS (TY GENDRON)
(08:23) SOO JR. GREYHOUNDS – ADAM PSZENICZNY (AJ CARBONE/BLAKE EDWARDS)
(07:55) NICKEL CITY SONS – LANDEN LAKE-REGO (TY DUBREUIL)
(07:10) NICKEL CITY SONS – HUNTER CURRIE (LEIGHTON PELLETIER/JANSSEN FRANSEN)
(06:48) NICKEL CITY SONS – HARRY YEAMANS (SAM PIETTE)
(02:29) SOO GREYHOUNDS – NATHAN WATTS (DREYON BOISSONEAU)
3RD PERIOD
(07:57) NICKEL CITY SONS – LANDEN LAKE-REGO (GRADY DALE/TY DUBREUIL)
OVERTIME
(04:34) SOO GREYHOUNDS – ADAM PSZENICZNY (FRANKIE REDA/TANNER CARRIERE)
GOALTENDERS
NICKEL CITY SONS – OWEN LAMOTHE
SOO GREYHOUNDS – TANNER CARRIERE
SATURDAY, MARCH 16TH (11:30 A.M)
NICKEL CITY SONS (1) @ (4) SOO GREYHOUNDS
1ST PERIOD
(01:03) SOO JR. GREYHOUNDS – FINLEY ESCASA (FRANKIE REDA/ADAM PSZENICZNY) (PP)
2ND PERIOD
(07:05) NICKEL CITY SONS – GRADY DALE (LANDEN LAKE-REGO/ HARRY YEAMANS)
(00:02) SOO JR. GREYHOUNDS – ADAM PSZENICZNY (JACOB VINCENT/TY GENDRON)
3RD PERIOD
(11:39) SOO JR. GREYHOUNDS – ADAM PSZENICZNY (FRANKIE REDA/KINGSTON KELLAR) (SH)
(01:38) SOO JR. GREYHOUNDS – ADAM PSZENICZNY (FINLAY CARLSON/DREYON BOISSONEAU (EN)
GOALTENDERS
NICKEL CITY SONS – TYSON MCMAHON
SOO GREYHOUNDS – WILL FRANIC
