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Photo Credit: Freeze Frame Photos
On Wednesday, February 12th, the Soo U18 Greyhounds played their final regular season home game at the John Rhodes Centre in a thrilling matchup against their U16 counterparts. The game was crucial for both teams, as only two points separated the U18 Greyhounds in fourth place (13-6-6-1) from the U16 Greyhounds in fifth place (14-11-0-2). With playoff implications on the line, fans were treated to a tense, fast-paced game that would ultimately be decided in overtime.
The U18 Greyhounds struck early, with Dylan Rousselle putting them on the board just 43 seconds into the contest. His tenth goal of the season came behind U16 goaltender Tanner Carriere, giving the U18 Greyhounds an early 1-0 lead. Hunter Thorkilson and Caleb Walker assisted on the goal.
The U18 team continued to apply pressure, and later in the period, Gavin Killoran extended their lead to 2-0 with his 14th goal of the season. Danny MacDonald and Rousselle earned the assists on Killoran’s strike, giving the U18 Greyhounds a solid advantage heading into the second period.
However, the U16 Greyhounds came out strong in the final frame. Just 42 seconds into the third period, Nathan Watts pulled the U16 Greyhounds within one, scoring his eleventh of the season. Adam Pszeniczny provided the assist on the goal.
The U16s kept pushing, and Watts once again found the back of the net at 5:29, tying the game at 2-2. Pszeniczny registered his second assist of the game, while Jacob Vincent also earned a helper on the play.
As the game wore on, the tension grew, and it was the U16 Greyhounds who would capitalize. At 9:35 of the third, Vincent netted his tenth goal of the season with a go-ahead tally that gave the U16 Greyhounds their first lead of the game. Watts and Dreydon Boissoneau picked up the assists on the crucial goal.
With time ticking down, the U18 Greyhounds refused to give up and found an equalizer. Caleb Walker set up Alessandro Parco, who scored his tenth of the season at 12:40 to level the game at 3-3. The late goal sent the game into overtime, where the intensity reached a boiling point.
The overtime period began with both teams on edge, but it would be the U16 Greyhounds who would come out on top. Just 63 seconds into the three-on-three overtime, Pszeniczny netted the game-winning goal, completing his three-point night. Defenceman Frankie Reda assisted on the goal, sealing the 4-3 victory for the U16 Greyhounds.
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