Photo Credit: Freeze Frame Photos

The Soo U18 Greyhounds travelled to Ottawa from October 16 to 18 to compete in the 2026 Senators AAA Showcase, joining 39 other U18 AAA hockey programs from across the region for a weekend of high-level competition.

The Greyhounds played five games over three days, earning three victories, including an overtime win against the Ottawa Valley Titans and a dominant shutout performance against St. Michael’s College. Soo also faced the Peterborough Jr. Petes, Don Mills Flyers and Toronto Jr. Canadiens during a busy weekend in the nation’s capital.

Greyhounds Open Showcase with Victory Over Peterborough
The Greyhounds began their tournament Friday afternoon, October 16, with a 2:15 p.m matchup against the Peterborough Jr. Petes.

Soo opened the scoring at the four-minute mark of the first period when Bryson Palahnuk recorded his first goal of the tournament, with Liam Clark picking up the assist.

The Greyhounds extended their advantage to 2-0 early in the second period. Myka Venneri scored at 9:30, assisted by Gage Guzzo and Rocco Dos Reis.

Peterborough responded just nine seconds later, as Joey Gusso found the back of the net at 9:39, with Karter Brideau collecting the assist to cut the deficit to one.

Soo restored its two-goal cushion early in the third period when Guzzo scored at 2:34. Dos Reis and Venneri assisted on the goal to make it 3-1.

Palahnuk added his second goal of the tournament at the nine-minute mark, with Finley Escasa earning the assist to give the Greyhounds a 4-1 lead.

The Jr. Petes added a late goal from Braydon Cornacchia at 11:20, assisted by Connor Rye, but Soo held on for a 4-2 opening-game victory.

Tanner Carriere started in goal for the Greyhounds, while Cam Waiser tended the net for Peterborough.

Don Mills Flyers Rally Late to Defeat Soo
The Greyhounds returned to the ice Friday evening for their second game of the showcase, facing the Don Mills Flyers at 8:00 p.m.

After a scoreless opening period, Soo broke through at 5:39 of the second period. Liam Clark scored his first goal of the tournament, with Nico Bossio and Logan Watson recording the assists to give the Greyhounds a 1-0 lead.

Soo carried that advantage into the third period before the Flyers found their offence late in the game.

Chris Kyriazis tied the contest at 10:57, assisted by Nicholas Kladis and Ryder Chang.

Don Mills then completed the comeback at 13:51 when Isaac Brown scored the go-ahead goal, with Evan Hann and Ben Tanouye collecting the assists.

The Greyhounds were unable to find another equalizer, falling 2-1 despite holding the lead for much of the game.

Noah Jylha was in goal for Soo, while Ziyou Zhou started for the Flyers.

Five-Goal Performance Leads Greyhounds Past St. Michael’s College
Soo responded Saturday morning, October 17, with its most convincing performance of the weekend, defeating St. Michael’s College 5-0 in an 11:00 a.m matchup.

The Greyhounds came out firing in the opening period, scoring four times to take control of the game.

Logan Nakani opened the scoring at 8:41, with Jayden Cranston and David Francella assisting.

Just over a minute later, at 9:44, Finlay Carlson doubled the lead. Jacob Vincent picked up the assist.

Bossio made it 3-0 at 14:33, with Escasa recording the assist.

At the same time mark, Nakani scored his second goal of the game to extend the advantage to 4-0. Cranston and Bryson Palahnuk earned the assists.

After a scoreless second period, Vincent added an insurance marker at 2:00 of the third, assisted by Gavin Greenwood, to round out the scoring in a 5-0 Greyhounds victory.

Carriere delivered a shutout performance between the pipes for Soo, while Nikolas Boer started for St. Michael’s College.

The five-goal outburst provided the Greyhounds with a strong response following Friday evening’s narrow loss to Don Mills.

Watson Delivers Overtime Winner Against Ottawa Valley
The Greyhounds faced another challenge Saturday afternoon when they met the Ottawa Valley Titans at 5:00 p.m.

The Titans opened the scoring just 1:10 into the first period, with Ben Schori finding the net. Alexander Holloway and Cruz Kostuch assisted on the goal.

Soo answered quickly. Just 35 seconds later, at 1:45, Jayden Cranston scored his first goal of the tournament to even the contest at 1-1. Dos Reis and Guzzo picked up the assists.

Neither team managed to find a go-ahead goal during the remainder of regulation, sending the game to overtime.

The extra period did not last long. At 56 seconds, Logan Watson scored the game-winning goal for the Greyhounds, unassisted, completing the comeback and securing a 2-1 overtime victory.

Jylha started in goal for Soo, while Josh Groulx tended the net for Ottawa Valley.

The win gave the Greyhounds their third victory of the showcase and provided another highlight in a demanding weekend schedule.

Toronto Jr. Canadiens Close Out Greyhounds’ Weekend
Soo wrapped up its five-game tournament schedule late Saturday night, taking on the Toronto Jr. Canadiens at 9:45 p.m.

Toronto established an early advantage with two first-period goals. Lucas Wang opened the scoring at 5:15, assisted by Michael Pal, before Jacob Aptekar added another at 13:43, with Darious Rodney collecting the assist.

The Greyhounds responded in the second period when Brett Archambault scored at 11:44. Greenwood earned the assist, cutting Toronto’s lead to 2-1.

The Jr. Canadiens restored their two-goal cushion at 8:15 of the third period when Shawn Zheng scored unassisted.

Toronto added another at 11:22, with Maxim Isaev finding the net off assists from Zheng and Oliver Omasta to make it 4-1.

Soo continued to battle, and Carlson scored at 11:30, assisted by Clark, to bring the Greyhounds within two.

However, the late push was not enough to complete another comeback, as Toronto secured a 4-2 victory.

Carriere started in goal for the Greyhounds, while Jame Bruce was between the pipes for the Jr. Canadiens.

Greyhounds Return Home for GNU18HL Action
The Soo U18 Greyhounds return to Sault Ste. Marie following their five-game weekend at the 2026 Senators AAA Showcase, where they gained valuable experience against a variety of AAA programs.

Soo finished the showcase with three wins and two losses, highlighted by a five-goal performance and shutout against St. Michael’s College, as well as Watson’s overtime winner against Ottawa Valley.

The Greyhounds will now turn their attention to GNU18HL action, hosting the Kapuskasing Flyers for a three-game series from October 23 to 25 at the John Rhodes Centre in Sault Ste. Marie.

The weekend schedule is as follows:

• Friday, October 23: 5:00 p.m.
• Saturday, October 24: 12:00 p.m.
• Sunday, October 25: 10:00 a.m.

The three-game home series will give the Greyhounds an opportunity to build on their showcase experience as they return to league play in front of their home fans.