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After a heartbreaking 4-3 loss to the Timmins Majors in the final 48 seconds of their 2025 GNU18HL round robin game on March 13th, the Soo U18 Greyhounds were determined to redeem themselves in the second semi-final of the 2025 GNU18HL Playoff Tournament on Saturday, March 15th. The Greyhounds had been eliminated in dramatic fashion the day before, but after a thrilling overtime 4-3 win over the North Bay U18 Trappers, they were ready to face the Majors once again. The winner of this semi-final will advance to the championship game to face the Sudbury U18 Wolves at 11:00 a.m. on Sunday, March 16th, in Timmins, Ontario, where the ultimate prize of the tournament will be on the line.
In a thrilling semi-final matchup at the 2025 GNU18HL Playoff Tournament, the Timmins Majors edged out the Soo U18 Greyhounds 3-2 to secure their spot in the championship game. The contest, held on Saturday, March 15th, was filled with dramatic moments and intense action as both teams battled for a chance to represent the league in the upcoming regional and national championships.
The Majors struck first at 4:39 of the opening period while on a power play. Edan Etheridge unleashed a powerful shot from the top of the right faceoff circle, beating Soo netminder Nick Marson to give Timmins a 1-0 lead. Jordan Martineau and Jordan McLeod provided the assists on Etheridge’s third goal of the postseason. Timmins continued to apply pressure, and at 18:59 of the first, Teegan Bertrand tipped a wrist shot from Evan Katic at the left blue line past Soo netminder Sebastien Brassard to extend the Majors’ lead to 2-0. Jakob Drobny also assisted on Bertrand’s five-on-three power play goal.
The Greyhounds responded in the second period. At 10:55, with the Soo on a power play, Cameron Kontulainen fired a wrist shot from just inside the right blue line that found its way behind Major goaltender Alex Hall, pulling the Greyhounds within one. Hunter Thorkilson and Nathan Dupuis were credited with the assists on Kontulainen’s first goal of the playoffs. The Soo continued to push, and at 16:23, defenseman Dylan Rousselle made a great cross-ice pass to Dupuis in the middle of the faceoff circles on a two-on-one. Dupuis rifled a shot along the ice past Hall to tie the game 2-2, with Danny MacDonald also assisting on the goal.
However, Timmins responded in the third period. At 3:33, Jordan Martineau capitalized on a rebound from Evan Katic, slamming the puck past Brassard to give the Majors a 3-2 lead. Despite a late push from the Greyhounds, Timmins held on to secure the victory and advance to the championship game.
The Majors will now face the Sudbury U18 Wolves in the 2025 GNU18HL Playoff Tournament Championship, with a puck drop set for 11:00 a.m. on Sunday, March 16th. The winner of this highly anticipated final will represent the GNU18HL at the 2025 Central Region U18 AAA Championship in Kemptville, Ontario, from March 31st to April 6th. The ultimate prize awaits, with the victor of the Central Region tournament earning a coveted spot at the 2025 TELUS Cup, Canada’s National U18 Hockey AAA Championship, to be held in Chilliwack, British Columbia, from April 21st to 27th.
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