The Soo U18 Jr. Greyhounds opened their 2026–27 GNU18HL regular-season schedule in impressive fashion, sweeping the Kapuskasing Flyers in a three-game road series in Kapuskasing, Ontario, from September 18 to 20. The Greyhounds found the back of the net 27 times over the three games, while allowing just six goals, including a pair of double-digit victories to close out the weekend.
The opening game of the weekend saw the Greyhounds and Flyers trade goals early before Sault Ste. Marie took control. Kapuskasing opened the scoring at 17:06 of the first period when Matti Farmer scored his first of the season, assisted by John Wesley. The Greyhounds answered quickly in the second, with Jacob Vincent scoring his first of the season just 1:48 into the period, assisted by Finlay Escasa and Nico Bossio. Dustin Niquet restored Kapuskasing’s lead only 10 seconds later, but the Greyhounds responded with four consecutive goals. Gage Guzzo tied the game at 2–2, followed by Vincent’s second of the game, Myka Venneri’s first of the season and Finlay Escasa’s first of the campaign on the power play. Kapuskasing added two more goals before the end of the period to make it 5–4, but Jayden Cranston’s power-play goal early in the third gave Sault some breathing room. Escasa added his second of the night into an empty net before Finlay Carlson completed the scoring with one second remaining, giving the Greyhounds an 8–4 victory. Vincent finished with two goals and three points, while Carlson recorded three points and Escasa scored twice.
Game Two turned into an offensive showcase for the Greyhounds as they dominated Kapuskasing from the opening faceoff. Rocco Dos Reis opened the scoring on the power play at 3:46, with Myka Venneri and Jayden Cranston picking up assists. Finlay Escasa doubled the lead before Logan Nakani made it 3–0 midway through the period. Escasa scored his second of the game at 18:08, and Liam Clark added another with just 32 seconds remaining in the opening frame. The Greyhounds continued their offensive pressure in the second period, with Dos Reis scoring his second of the contest before Venneri, Nico Bossio and Jacob Vincent found the net. Bossio then scored his second of the game at 18:57 to give Sault a commanding 10–0 lead. There was no scoring in the third period as the Greyhounds completed the shutout. Escasa led the offensive attack with two goals and three points, while Bossio registered two goals and four points. Dos Reis also scored twice, and Noah Jylha earned the shutout in goal for Sault.
With two victories already secured, the Greyhounds entered Sunday’s finale looking to complete the three-game sweep and finish their opening weekend of the GNU18HL regular season undefeated. Sault wasted little time getting started, with Nico Bossio scoring shorthanded at 4:03 of the first period. Jacob Vincent then extended the lead to 2–0 at 11:51, assisted by Finlay Carlson. Kapuskasing responded early in the second when Jaden Cloutier scored his first of the season, but the Flyers’ momentum was short-lived. Escasa restored the two-goal advantage just 2:40 later before adding another power-play goal at 7:32 to complete his second period. Rocco Dos Reis, Bryson Palahnuk and Carlson then scored in succession to give the Greyhounds a 7–1 lead after 40 minutes. Escasa completed his hat trick at 9:33 of the third period, assisted by Bossio and Clark, before Vincent scored his second of the game at 10:00 to make it a 9–1 final.
Escasa finished the weekend as one of the Greyhounds’ offensive leaders, scoring seven goals across the three games, including a hat trick in Sunday’s finale. Vincent also had a strong opening weekend with five goals, while Bossio contributed three goals in the three-game set and Dos Reis added three goals of his own. Carlson and Venneri were also consistent contributors throughout the weekend, helping Sault establish an offensive rhythm right from the start of the regular season.
In net, Tanner Carriere started Game One for the Greyhounds, while Noah Jylha handled the goaltending duties in Games Two and Three. Kapuskasing used Alexandre Gravel in Game One, while Gravel and Zach Albrecht shared the crease during the final two games of the weekend.
The three-game sweep gives the Soo U18 Greyhounds a perfect 3–0 start to the 2026–27 GNU18HL regular season. After scoring eight goals in the opener, ten in Game Two and nine in the finale, the Greyhounds return home to Sault Ste. Marie to prepare for their first home weekend of the season.
The Greyhounds will host the Sudbury U18 Wolves in a three-game weekend from September 25 to 27. The series begins Friday, September 25 at 4:00 p.m., followed by an 8:00 p.m. game Saturday, September 26, before the weekend concludes with a 10:00 a.m. matchup Sunday, September 27. After an impressive opening weekend in Kapuskasing, the Greyhounds will look to carry that momentum into their home-opening series against Sudbury.
