Photo Credit: Freeze Frame Photos
At the Don Shepherdson Memorial Arena in New Liskeard, Ontario, the Soo U18 Greyhounds opened their 2026 GNU18HL Playoffs with their first matchup of the week against the Sudbury U18 Wolves. The Greyhounds entered the playdowns after a strong regular season that saw them finish second in the standings with an impressive 32-3-1 record. Meanwhile, the Wolves arrived in New Liskeard after finishing fourth in the regular season with a 17-15-4 record, and looking to carry momentum into the event after capturing the 2026 GNU18HL Playoff championship during the March 6th–8th weekend to earn their place in the league 2026 playoffs.
The opening period saw the Wolves strike first on the powerplay late in the frame. At the 17:23 mark, Brett Moxam scored his first goal of the postseason for the Sudbury U18 Wolves to give his team a 1–0 lead. The goal came with assists from Khade Metatawabin and Mekhi Levesque as Sudbury carried the one-goal advantage into the first intermission.
The Soo U18 Greyhounds responded in the second period and quickly shifted the momentum of the game. At 14:26, Anthony Spironello tied the game 1–1 with his first goal of the postseason, assisted by Finlay Escasa. Just over a minute later, the Greyhounds took their first lead of the contest when Nathan Dupuis scored at 15:49 for his first goal of the season, with helpers going to Makks Demidovich and Dreyon Boissoneau, giving the Soo a 2–1 lead heading into the final period.
The Greyhounds extended their lead early in the third period with a powerplay marker. At 6:20, defenseman Frankie Reda fired home his first goal of the postseason to make it 3–1, with assists credited to Dreyon Boissoneau and Espen Escasa. Just 32 seconds later, the Greyhounds struck again when Hunter Thorkilson scored his first of the postseason at 6:52, assisted by Escasa and Nico Bossio, sealing the 4–1 victory.
Between the pipes, Sebastien Brassard picked up his first win of the playoff tournament for the Greyhounds, while Jayden Claveau was handed his first loss of the tournament for Sudbury.
The Greyhounds return to the ice on Thursday, March 12th at 12:00 p.m in New Liskeard when they face the 0–1 Sudbury U16 Wolves, who dropped their opening game of the playoffs to the North Bay Trappers on March 11th. Meanwhile, the Sudbury U18 Wolves will look to bounce back later that evening when they meet the host New Liskeard Cubs at 5:30 p.m.
