Photo Eric Verbonac

After capturing the 2022 Great North Midget League championship on March 20th in Kapuskasing, Ontario, the Soo U18 Greyhounds opened the 2022 All Ontario Central Region Championship in Toronto, Ontario against the reigning U18 TELUS Cup national champions, the Toronto Young Nationals on April 4th.

From British Columbia to Newfoundland & Labrador, 149 U18 teams began the 2021 – 2022 season to compete to earn one of five spots and join the host Sydney Rush at the 2022 TELUS Cup in Alberta from May 16 to 22. The Road to the TELUS Cup in Toronto, Ontario won’t be an easy one for our local Soo U18 Greyhounds with the dominate Mississauga Reps filling the (GTHL) slot, the Nepean Raiders (HEO) along with the hosts, Toronto Young Nationals (GTHL) from April 4th to April 10th.

From in front of the Nationals net, Gabe Zimbaro cuts across Toronto goaltender Nick Tsatsanis crease to find the back of Tsatsanis’ net to give the Greyhounds a 1 – 0 lead at 12:36 of the first. Adrian O’Dell and Carmine Perna drew the assists on Zimbaro’s goal. Right off a Nationals faceoff, David Elmy drops a pass to defenseman Nathan MacLean 71 seconds into the middle stanza to rifle to tying goal behind Soo netminder Charlie Burns to pull Toronto even 1 – 1. With Toronto on a five on three powerplay from the top of the left faceoff circle, Dylan Edwards fires a snapshot over Burns blocker to find the back of the Greyhound net for the Nationals go-ahead goal at the 0:00 mark of the period at 14:23 of the second. Anthony Francella had the contribtuor of Edwards’ powerplay goal. At 12:05 of the third period, Braedy Martin slides the Nationals third under Burns to bring the lead to 3 – 1 with Cian Noble and Jesse Aitken setting up Martin’s goal. With Burns on the bench for an extra Greyhound attacker, Dylan Edwards scores an empty net goal on Toronto’s fourth to give the Nationals a 4 – 1 win over the Soo.

Defenseman Evan Roach told Saultsports post game that “we just have to come to play a little bit better in all aspects we left the game close for the first but we have to tighten up defensively the biys will come with a big game tomorrow and try to get better and better as the week goes on.”

“It’s a tough day with a long ride to get here but full credit to them they were dominant from the drop of the puck. Charlie was incredible tonight keeping it close we just couldn’t find a way to win enough battles and as a result we played most of the game in our zone. It’s a long week we’ll try and get better tomorrow it won’t be easy again we just need our guys to committ to being on the right side of the puck and capitalize on the chances we generate,” added Greyhound coach Jamie Henderson.

The Greyhounds next opponents will be the GTHL Mississauga Reps on Tuesday, April 5th in a 5:30 p.m start in Toronto.