Photo Credit: Freeze Frame Photos

Over the January 10th – 12th weekend, the Soo U18 Greyhounds showcased their dominance on Friday, January 10th, kicking off a weekend of GNU18HL action with an impressive 5-1 victory over the visiting New Liskeard Cubs. At the John Rhodes Centre watched as the Greyhounds displayed skill, teamwork, and offensive firepower.

The game opened with Soo forward Caleb Walker setting the tone early, netting his 12th goal of the season to give the Greyhounds a 1-0 lead. Walker wasn’t finished there—he struck again later in the period, tallying his second of the game and giving the Greyhounds a comfortable 2-0 lead heading into the intermission.

The second period began with more fireworks from the Soo, as Alessandro Parco extended the lead to 3-0 with his 13th goal of the season. The unassisted effort showcased Parco’s skill and determination as he carved through the Cubs’ defense.

Midway through the second, Walker completed his second hat trick of the season with a power-play goal that brought the score to 4-0. The milestone highlighted the young forward’s knack for finding the back of the net in key moments. Nathan Dupuis added to the Greyhounds’ tally with his fifth goal of the season, increasing the lead to 5-0 before the period concluded.

The Cubs managed to break through in the third period, with Thomas Rannou scoring his sixth goal of the season to prevent a shutout. However, the lone goal wasn’t enough to spark a comeback, as the Greyhounds held firm and closed out the game with a decisive 5-1 victory.

Walker’s standout performance, complemented by strong contributions from Parco and Dupuis, highlighted a well-rounded team effort. The Greyhounds’ solid defensive play and consistent pressure kept the Cubs on their heels throughout the contest.

With this win, the Soo U18 Greyhounds continue to solidify their position as a force to be reckoned with in the GNU18HL. The Soo U18 Greyhounds faced a tough test in their second game of the weekend, falling 4-3 in overtime to the North Bay U16 Trappers in a tightly contested matchup on Saturday evening.

Coming off a commanding 5-1 victory over the New Liskeard Cubs the night before, the Greyhounds entered the game with momentum. However, it was North Bay’s Phillippe Lafontaine who struck first, finding the back of the net in the opening period for his fourth goal of the season to give the Trappers a 1-0 lead.

The Greyhounds responded early in the second period, with Gavin Killoran firing home his 13th of the season to tie the game 1-1. North Bay regained the lead moments later, as Ty Dubreuil scored his 10th of the season, putting the Trappers up 2-1.

Refusing to back down, the Greyhounds equalized once more. Hunter Thorkilson tallied his seventh goal of the season, making it 2-2 midway through the second period. Continuing his standout weekend, Caleb Walker—fresh off a hat trick in Friday’s game—scored his 15th goal of the season, giving the Greyhounds a 3-2 lead heading into the final frame.

The Trappers showed resilience in the third period, as Ty Dubreuil netted his second goal of the contest to tie the game at 3-3 and force overtime. In the extra frame, North Bay’s Owen Smith sealed the win for the Trappers with his 14th goal of the season, handing the Greyhounds a narrow 4-3 defeat.

Despite the loss, Caleb Walker’s performance over the weekend was a highlight for the Greyhounds, with four goals in two games. The Soo now looks to regroup as they continue their season, while the Trappers celebrate a hard-fought victory on the road.

This thrilling matchup showcased the competitiveness of the GNU18HL and left fans eager for more action in the coming weeks.

Next action for the Soo U18 Greyhounds will be over the January 16th to 18th weekend when they head to Peterborough, Ontario to take part in the 2025 Steve Richey Tournament.

2025 Steve Richey Tournament
(01.16.25) Soo U18 Greyhounds vs Kingston Jr Gaels (8:15 p.m)
(01.17.25) Halton Hurricanes vs Soo U18 Greyhounds (11:30 a.m)
(01.17.25) Soo U18 Greyhounds vs Ajax Pickering Raiders (5:00 p.m)
(01.18.25) Ottawa Valley Titans vs Soo U18 Greyhounds (3:00 p.m)

Saturday, January 11
North Bay Trappers (4) vs (3) Soo U18 Greyhounds
1st
(2:04) North Bay U16 Trappers – Phillippe Lafontaine (Zachary Robinson/Evan Rowe)

2nd
(6:33) Soo U18 Greyhounds – Gavin Killoran (Jevon Johnson/Danny MacDonald)
(13:37) North Bay U16 Trappers – Ty Dubreuil (Phillippe Lafontaine/Brayden Hanam) (PP)
(17:48) Soo U18 Greyhounds – Hunter Thorkilson (Alessandro Parco/Cameron Kontulainen)
(19:46) Soo U18 Greyhounds – Caleb Walker (Alessandro Parco/Dylan Rousselle)

3rd
(2:59) North Bay U16 Trappers – Ty Dubreuil (Janssen Fransen/Uilliam Noll)

1st OT
(3:52) North Bay U16 Trappers – Owen Smith (Uilliam Noll/Emerik Bray)

Goaltenders
Soo U18 Greyhounds – Nick Marson
North Bay U16 Trappers – Bruce LaRonde

Friday, January 10
New Liskeard Cubs (1) vs (5) Soo U18 Greyhounds
1st
(4:22) Soo U18 Greyhounds – Caleb Walker (Alessandro Parco)
(8:50) Soo U18 Greyhounds – Caleb Walker (Alessandro Parco/Hunter Thorkilson)

2nd
(2:00) Soo U18 Greyhounds – Alessandro Parco (Unassisted)
(11:47) Soo U18 Greyhounds – Caleb Walker (Alessandro Parco/Jevon Johnson) (PP)
(14:50) Soo U18 Greyhounds – Nathan Dupuis (Gavin Killoran)

3rd
(13:14) New Liskeard Cubs – Thomas Rannou (Maverick Hill/Jake Hey) (PP)

Goaltenders
Soo Greyhounds – Nick Marson
New Liskeard Cubs – Matt Leitch