After winning the 2022 NOHA Tournament of Champions in Timmins, Ontario over the March 25 – 27 weekend over the Copper Cliff Reds, the Soo U13AA Greyhounds advanced to the U13AA Ontario Hockey Federation Championships in Copper Cliff, Ontario over the April 23 – 25 weekend.

The U13AA Greyhounds were joined by the eventual tournament winners Mississauga Beast along with the Aurora Tigers, London Jr. Knights, and their hosts, the Copper Cliff Reds.

U13AA Greyhound coach Mike Fera told Saultsports that “overall it was a great weekend of hockey. The players were able to experience some excellent competition and Copper Cliff did a great job hosting the tournament. We saw some excellent games in the round robin and the pace of play and level of competition was very high. I thought our kids matched up very well with the teams representing their respective associations and we were able to experience some excellent hockey games over the course of the weekend.”

Team roster included Trent Borrelli, Tanner Carriere, Kaidyn Beaird, Adam Stevens, Sebastian Fera, Aiden Giovanatti, Riley Pettit, Tye Turco, Kingston Kellar, Brett Archambault, Blake Edwards, Ashton Edwards, Finlay Carlson, Brett Koski, Nathan Watts, Jacob Wilson, Jacob Vincent, Mike Fera (Coach), Chris Kellar (Asst Coach), Dave Patriquin (Asst Coach), Jay Borelli (Asst Coach), and  Jean Carriere (Trainer).

“Unfortunately the final game did not start off the way we intended. We had a few costly mistakes real early in the game and left our goalie out to dry. Anytime you get down early in a game it can get in the players heads. I felt the group did a great job responding and really played an excellent game after the first few moments. Mississauga has to be commended for their start and their ability to hold us off. We had a lot of sustained pressure but we just were not able to find the back of the net like we usually can. Even though it is still fresh and we were so close, I have nothing but pride and respect for our group,” added Fera.

Looking back on the season, I was very fortunate to be surrounded by an excellent staff. They brought so much to our group and the players, as well as I, benefited from their knowledge and experience. Overall it was a great season and the players have every reason to hold their head up high. Undefeated in league play, 2x tournament champions and 3x tournament runners up. Wherever we went these kids turned heads and made a name for themselves. I believe their achievements throughout the year were a culmination of their skill, hardwork, and dedication to becoming the best players and teammates they could.”

Sunday, April 24 (11:30 a.m)
Mississauga Beast (4) vs (5) Soo Greyhounds
Period 1
0:28 Mississauga Beast – Ethan Cassar (Michael Tomcak)
0:54 Mississauga Beast – Alexander Malpartida (Cristian Siountres)
3:01 Mississauga Beast – Alexander Malpartida (Michael Tomcak)

Period 2
11:56 Nathan Watts Brett Koski/Adam Stevens)

Goaltenders
Soo Greyhounds – Tanner Carriere/Tanner Carriere
Mississauga Beast – Noah Aylsworth

Sunday, April 24 (7:00 a.m)
Aurora Tigers (1) vs (5) Soo Jr. Greyhounds
Period 2
4:19 Soo Jr. Greyhounds – Tye Turco (Sebastian Fera/Kingston Kellar)
10:22 Soo Jr. Greyhounds – Jacob Vincent (Ashton Edwards)
10:58 Soo Jr. Greyhounds – Finlay Carlson (PP)
13:40 Soo Jr. Greyhounds – Jacob Vincent (Tye Turco/Blake Edwards)

Period 3
2:19 Aurora Tigers – Karson Stickle (Charlie West) (PP)
14:23 Soo Jr. Greyhounds – Riley Pettit (SH)

Goaltenders
Soo Greyhounds – Tanner Carriere
Aurora Tigers – Billy MacMillan/Jack Lamanna)

Saturday, April 23rd (4:00 p.m)
Soo Jr. Greyhounds (1) vs (3) London Jr. Knights
Period 2
4:30 London Jr. Knights – Davinn Vigneux (Brett Morrison/Avery Thomsen)
5:23 London Jr. Knights – Brett Morrison (Maxwell Glover)
13:27 Soo Greyhounds – Tye Turco (Jacob Wilson/Riley Pettit)

Period 3
10:33 London Jr. Knights – Maxwell Glover (Brett Morrison) (PP)

Goaltenders
Soo Greyhounds – Trent Borrelli
London Jr. Knights – Tyler Giguere

Saturday, April 23rd (10:00 a.m)
Mississauga Beast (4) vs (5) Soo Greyhounds
Period 1
0:58 Mississauga Beast – Johan Gonsalves (Marcus MacHado/Kyle Olds)
1:20 Soo Greyhounds – Blake Edwards (Tye Turco) (PP)
2:56 Soo Greyhounds – Tye Turco (Blake Edwards/Jacob Vincent)
6:57 Soo Greyhounds – Riley Pettit (Brett Archambault/Jacob Wilson)
8:32 Mississauga Beast – Alexander Malpartida (Adam White/Cristian Siountres)
12:11Mississauga Beast – Adam White (Alexander Malpartida)

Period 2
13:51 Soo Greyhounds – Jacob Vincent (Riley Pettit/Tye Turco)

Period 3
1:06 Soo Greyhounds – Blake Edwards (Tye Turco/Jacob Vincent) (PP)
10:11 Mississauga Beast – Ethan Cassar (David Cho/Kyle Olds)

Goaltenders
Soo Greyhounds – Tanner Carriere
Mississauga Beast – Nikheel Mahal

Friday, April 22 (2:30 p.m)
Copper Cliff Reds (0) vs (5) Soo Greyhounds
Period 1
Soo Greyhounds – 2:29 Jacob Vincent (Nathan Watts)

Period 2
Soo Greyhounds – 0:50 Tye Turco (Jacob Vincent)
Soo Greyhounds – 11:28 Tye Turco (Jacob Vincent)
Soo Greyhounds – 13:53 Jacob Vincent (Tye Turco)

Period 3 1:29 Jacob Vincent

Goaltenders
Soo Greyhounds – Trent Borrelli
Copper Cliff Reds – Declan McGonegal

Friday, April 22 (10:00 a.m)
Aurora Tigers (6) vs (2) Soo Greyhounds
Period 1
4:10 Aurora Tigers – Karson Stickle (Ian Smith/Blake Donaldson) (PP)
5:41 Aurora Tigers – Dante Chaplin (Max Daniels)
8:58 Aurora Tigers – Carmelo Quartarone (Lucas Desnoes)
11:06 Aurora Tigers – Lucas Desnoes (Dante Chaplin/Max Daniels)
13:41 Soo Greyhounds – Nathan Watts
14:28 Aurora Tigers – Max Daniels (Dante Chaplin)

Period 3
1:43 Aurora Tigers – Ian Smith (PP)
11:51 Soo Greyhounds – Tye Turco (Jacob Vincent)

Goaltenders
Soo Greyhounds – Trent Borrelli
Aurora Tigers – Jack Lamanna