U18 Greyhounds Fight Back with Strong Finish to Advance to 2025 Semi-Final with Win Over U16 Greyhounds -

After tough losses earlier in the day at the McIntyre Arena on Friday, March 14th, both the Soo U18 and U16 Greyhounds were determined to bounce back in their final round-robin games at the 2025 GNU18HL Playoff Tournament. The U18 Greyhounds were handed a 3-1 defeat by the Sudbury U18 Wolves, while the U16 Greyhounds narrowly lost 3-2 to the Timmins Majors. Despite these setbacks, both teams took to the ice for an 8:00 p.m. puck drop on Friday evening, eager to close out the round robin on a positive note and secure a semi-final berth for Saturday, March 15th. With high stakes and plenty of determination, both Greyhounds programs were ready to give it their all in the final game before the playoffs.

Leading the charge for the U16 Greyhounds, forward Wyatt Jarratt had been a key contributor throughout the tournament, tallying one goal and two assists heading into the March 14th contest. Meanwhile, U18 Greyhound forward Nathan Dupuis had emerged as a standout performer, leading his team with two goals and one assist as they prepared for the final round-robin game. However, the U18 Greyhounds were down eight players from their regular-season roster, adding extra pressure on the team.

The game began with both teams playing a tightly contested battle. At 14:52 of the second period, U18 Greyhound defenseman Dylan Rousselle made an incredible individual effort, skating coast-to-coast up the right side of the ice before cutting to the middle and firing a shot past U16 Greyhounds goaltender Gavin Zuccato to give the U18 Greyhounds a 1-0 lead. Rousselle’s goal, unassisted, was the first of the tournament for the defenseman.

The U16 Greyhounds fought back in the third period. At 15:17, Nathan Watts took advantage of a rebound off U18 Greyhound netminder Sebastien Brassard, slotting the puck home to even the game 1-1. Jacob Vincent assisted on the goal, with Brett Archambault also picking up a helper on Watts’ first goal of the playoffs.

With just under four minutes left in the game, the U18 Greyhounds capitalized on a power play. In a chaotic scrum in front of Zuccato’s crease, seven players battled for control of the puck. Nathan Dupuis emerged from the pile with possession, sliding the puck under Zuccato to give the U18 Greyhounds a 2-1 lead at 16:37 of the third. Gavin Killoran and Anthony Spironello assisted on Dupuis’ third goal of the tournament, which proved to be the game-winner.

The U18 Greyhounds’ victory secured them a spot in the semi-finals, and they will face off against the Timmins Majors at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 15th. The other semi-final will feature the North Bay U18 Trappers taking on the Sudbury U18 Wolves at 10:30 a.m. The winners of these two semi-finals will meet in the championship game on Sunday, March 16th, at 11:00 a.m. With both Greyhounds teams showing resilience and determination, it was an exciting week of hockey in Timmins for the U16 Greyhounds.