Photo Credit: Freeze Frame Photos

Over the January 9th and 10th weekend, the Soo U18 Greyhounds welcomed the visiting Thunder Bay Kings to Sault Ste. Marie for back-to-back GNU18HL regular season action, showcasing a competitive and physical series between two well-matched programs. The two-game set featured strong goaltending, disciplined defensive play, and timely scoring, with momentum swinging throughout the weekend as both teams pushed the pace in crucial league matchups that carried significant implications in the GNU18HL standings.

The opening matchup featured the Soo U18 Greyhounds hosting the Kings in a tightly contested battle. Thunder Bay struck first at 3:04 of the opening period, as Kellan Ozerkevich scored his 11th goal of the season, assisted by Nathan Vita and Luke Sicliano. The Greyhounds responded late in the frame, with Brett Archambeault tying the game at 17:48 with his first of the season, off passes from Nathan Dupuis and Jackson Thornton. Just under two minutes later, league-leading scorer Espen Escasa gave Soo the lead at 19:35, netting his 23rd goal of the season with assists from Makks Demidovich and Finlay Carlson, sending the Greyhounds into the intermission up 2–1.

The second period remained scoreless as both teams tightened defensively and goaltending stood tall at either end. In the third, Thunder Bay evened the score at 13:33 when Jackson Walker found the back of the net, assisted by Ozerkevich and Michael Figliomeni. The Greyhounds answered quickly, as Nico Bossio restored the Soo lead at 14:50 with his 19th goal of the season, assisted by Escasa and Cam Kontulainen. With the Kings pressing late, Dreyon Boissoneau sealed the victory with an empty-net goal at 19:32, his ninth of the season, assisted by Anthony Spironello, securing a 4–2 Soo U18 win. Gavin Zuccato earned the victory in goal for the Greyhounds, while Nolan Meadows tended the net for Thunder Bay.

In game two of the weekend on Saturday evening, the Thunder Bay Kings returned to the ice to face the Soo U18 Greyhounds in GNU18HL regular season action, with the Greyhounds delivering a strong, well-rounded performance to earn a convincing home-ice win.

Thunder Bay opened the scoring midway through the first period. At 8:39, Michael Figliomeni put the Kings ahead 1–0 with his ninth goal of the season, finishing a play set up by Jackson Walker and Kellan Ozerkevich. The Greyhounds answered later in the frame, as Nico Bossio continued his productive season, tying the game at 15:20 with his 20th goal of the year, assisted by Espen Escasa, sending the teams into the intermission deadlocked at 1–1.

Soo took control of the game in the second period. At 5:16, Dreyon Boissoneau gave the Greyhounds their first lead, scoring his 10th of the season off a feed from Escasa. The momentum continued at 12:29 when league-leading scorer Espen Escasa found the back of the net himself, netting his 24th of the season with assists from Bossio and Makks Demidovich, extending the Soo lead to 3–1 heading into the third.

The Greyhounds put the game out of reach early in the final frame. On the power play at 3:48, Makks Demidovich buried his 11th goal of the season, assisted by Frankie Reda, making it 4–2. Just over a minute later, Finlay Carlson added another, scoring his 10th of the season at 4:59 with helpers from Escasa and Demidovich to cap the scoring at 5–2.

Between the pipes, Sebastien Brassard was solid for the Greyhounds, turning aside the Kings’ chances to secure the win, while Nolan Meadows handled the goaltending duties for Thunder Bay.

With the victory, the Soo U18 Greyhounds closed out a successful weekend series and will now turn their attention to their next challenge.

The Greyhounds head to Peterborough on Thursday, January 15th, to compete in the 2026 Steve Richey Tournament of Champions. Meanwhile, the Thunder Bay Kings will travel south to face the U16 and U18 Wolves in Sudbury over the January 23rd to 25th weekend.