saultsports 
The 2025 GNU18HL play-in tournament got off to an intense start in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, as the New Liskeard Cubs took to the ice on Saturday, March 8th, in their first game of the weekend. Facing off against the North Bay U16 Trappers at Rankin Arena, the Cubs were looking to bounce back from a tough regular season finish, having ended the 2024-2025 GNu18HL season in seventh place. On the other side, the Trappers, who wrapped up their regular season in sixth, were coming off a hard-fought 2-2 tie with the Soo U18 Greyhounds on Friday, March 7th, and were eager to continue their momentum.
The game started with an explosive first period, as North Bay’s Cedar Montreuil opened the scoring at 5:19 to give the Trappers a 1-0 lead. Montreuil’s goal, his second of the weekend, was assisted by Owen Smith and Carter Brownlee. Just 11 seconds past the midway mark of the first, the Trappers struck again, as Emerik Bray scored his first goal of the weekend to extend the lead to 2-0. Bray’s goal was set up by Zachary Robinson and Carter McAllister.
Montreuil wasn’t done yet. At the 11-minute mark, Montreuil fired his second goal of the game, with assists from Smith and Miguel Brunette, making it 3-0 North Bay. Less than three minutes later, at 13:41, Ty Dubreuil added to the Trappers’ tally with an unassisted goal, bringing the score to 4-0. The first period ended with a dominant 4-0 lead for North Bay.
As the second period began, Montreuil continued his scorching performance. At 11:27, he completed a hat trick with a powerplay goal, assisted by Grady Dale, making it 5-0. Montreuil wasn’t finished there; he netted his fourth of the game at 17:19, with Brunette contributing to the assist, extending the Trappers’ lead to 6-0.
Philippe Lafontaine then got in on the action, scoring unassisted at 18:04 to give the Trappers a commanding 7-0 lead. Finally, with just 2:24 remaining in the game, Montreuil capped off his incredible performance by adding his fifth goal of the game, assisted by Janssen Fransen and Lafontaine, bringing the score to 8-0 in favor of North Bay.
The game concluded with an 8-0 victory for the Trappers, as goaltender Bruce LaRonde earned the shutout in a stellar performance between the pipes. The Cubs, despite their best efforts, were unable to get anything past LaRonde or solve the Trappers’ offensive onslaught.
Looking ahead, the (0-1) New Liskeard Cubs are back in action later on Saturday, March 8th, at 7:30 p.m., facing the (0-0-1) Soo U16 Greyhounds at the Rankin Arena. Meanwhile, the Trappers will await the outcome of that contest to determine their opponent in the 2025 GNU18HL play-in tournament championship game, scheduled for Sunday, March 9th, at 12:30 p.m. at the Northern Community Centre.
With a dominant win to start the tournament, the Trappers will be riding high as they aim to secure their place in the championship, while the Cubs will need to regroup and refocus as they prepare for their second game of the weekend. Listen live to the U16 Greyhounds versus New Liskeard Cubs on True North Radio.
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