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In a heart-pounding game five of the 2025 Sault Ste. Marie High School Hockey League City Championship, the Korah Colts emerged victorious with a 5-3 win over the CASS Huskies in front of a raucous crowd of over 500 fans at the John Rhodes Centre on Thursday, February 27th. The best-of-five series was tied at 2-2 heading into the decisive match, and both teams came out ready to leave it all on the ice, knowing that a win would secure their spot in the 2025 NOSSA Championships in North Bay from March 4-6.
The game was a back-and-forth battle filled with intensity, skill, and drama, with momentum shifting multiple times throughout the contest. It took just 67 seconds into the first period for the Huskies to strike first. Brody Kleist, the star forward for CASS, found the back of the net with a sharp shot past Korah goaltender Payton Melchiorre, giving the Huskies a 1-0 lead early in the game. Kleist’s tenth goal of the postseason came with assists from Dom Corbett and Tyler Quenneville.
Korah, however, was not about to go down quietly. After a penalty left the Colts shorthanded in the second period, Korah’s Griffin Albert capitalized with a powerful shot to tie the game 1-1 at 12:12. Albert’s third goal of the playoffs was assisted by Nathan Guizietti and Ethan Ferguson.
With the score even, the stage was set for the thrilling conclusion. CASS reclaimed the lead early in the third period. Brody Kleist, not content with just one goal, netted his second of the game at 53 seconds, with assists from Mika Chong and Quenneville, giving the Huskies a 2-1 advantage.
Kleist wasn’t done yet. At 13:00 of the third, he completed his hat trick, scoring his third goal of the game to extend CASS’s lead to 3-1. The goal, assisted by Ashton Young, was a stunning display of Kleist’s offensive prowess as he dominated the game in front of the net.
But the Colts were not ready to surrender. Samuel Caruso pulled Korah back within one at 8:40, scoring his second of the postseason. Caruso’s goal, which was assisted by Deago Campagna and Preston Miller, kept the Colts in striking distance with the score at 3-2.
Korah continued to push, and at 7:03 of the third, Griffin Albert scored his second goal of the game, tying the contest at 3-3. A sharp pass from defenseman Donny Herden set up Albert’s goal, sending the home crowd into a frenzy as the game reached its final stretch.
The drama continued to build, with the game heading into its final minutes. Korah found themselves with a power play at 4:27, and it was Koen Manchulenko who delivered the game-changing moment. Manchulenko’s seventh goal of the playoffs, assisted by Ferguson, gave Korah a 4-3 lead, leaving CASS scrambling for an answer.
As the clock ticked down, CASS made one last push, but Korah sealed the victory with 79 seconds remaining. Tyler Lang, scoring his second goal of the postseason, buried the puck into the back of the net to put the game out of reach at 5-3. Manchulenko added the assist, and the John Rhodes Centre erupted in celebration as the Colts clinched the city championship and a spot in the NOSSA Championships.
The Korah Colts will now represent Sault Ste. Marie at the 2025 NOSSA Championships in North Bay, Ontario on March 4 – 6, and after a series that showcased both teams’ talent and determination, they are poised to continue their remarkable run at the provincial level. For CASS, despite the loss, it was a hard-fought battle, and they can hold their heads high knowing they gave everything in pursuit of the city title.
The 2025 Sault Ste. Marie High School Hockey League City Championship was an unforgettable spectacle of high school hockey, and Korah’s triumph will go down in local hockey history. As they prepare for the next challenge in North Bay, the Colts are ready to make their mark on the provincial stage.
Visit Freeze Frame Photo by Bob Davies photo gallery of the CASS Huskies versus Korah Colts in game five action of the 2025 Sault Ste Marie High School Hockey League City Championship series.
Team Essential/Wendy’s Restaurant SSM Athlete of the Game were Gabe Stewart (CASS Huskies) and Ethan Fergsuon (Korah Colts). Korah Colts Ethan Ferguson named Timekeepers Award while CASS Huskie Cash Rowswell was named Playoff MVP.
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