The Soo Jr. Greyhounds competed in the U13 12U AAA (2012)
division of the Silver Stick International Finals in Port Huron/Detroit,
Michigan, from January 9 to 11, 2025.
The tournament featured some of the best teams from across
North America, and the Greyhounds finished the round robin portion with a 2-2
record, gaining valuable experience against high-level competition.
The Greyhounds began their campaign on January 9 with a
strong 3-1 victory over the Cleveland Barons Elite. Notably, Cleveland, ranked
in the 20s in the United States, tied Chicago Mission 5-5 later in the round
robin. Chicago Mission won the tournament championship, emphasizing the
strength of Cleveland as an opponent.
On January 10, the Greyhounds faced another top-20 U.S.
team, Detroit Compuware, and secured a hard-fought 3-2 win in a close game that
showcased their grit and determination. Later that evening, the Greyhounds
faced the Nashville Jr. Predators, ranked #10 in the United States. Despite a
strong effort, the Greyhounds fell 4-1 to the skilled Nashville team in a game
that was very tight throughout until Nashville scored to make it 3-1 before
finishing off with an empty net goal.
The round robin concluded on January 11 with a matchup
against the Toronto Jr. Canadiens, currently ranked #2 in Canada. The Canadiens
lived up to their ranking and defeated the Greyhounds 6-1. The Canadiens went
on to make the semifinals of the Silver Stick tournament, losing their rematch
to Chicago Mission whom the Canadiens had beaten during the round robin.
Florida Alliance, ranked #11 in the United States, also
participated in the tournament and finished the round robin with a 2-2 record.
With both teams remaining in Detroit until Sunday, the Greyhounds and Florida
Alliance scheduled two (2) exhibition games.
The first game took place on Saturday night, January 11, at
the Garden City Ice Arena. The Greyhounds played a strong game, earning a 2-1
victory through disciplined defense and strong goaltending.
The teams faced off again on Sunday morning, January 12, in
another closely contested game where the Hounds had to mount a comeback from
being down early. The Greyhounds came out on top, winning 4-3. These victories
against a highly ranked Florida Alliance team were an added highlight of the
weekend and a testament to the Greyhounds' perseverance, leaving them with a
4-2 record over the weekend.
Since the Silver Stick tournament, the Greyhounds have been
working hard on the ice, practicing for the past two (2) weeks to refine their
game and prepare for upcoming challenges. The team is set to travel to Sudbury
on February 1 and 2 for three (3) league games against the Sudbury Wolves U13
AAA team. With their recent experiences against some of the top teams in North
America, the Greyhounds look to continue building on their momentum as the
season progresses.