Early on in the Great North
Three U18 teams are leading the pack with five wins each as the ’24-25 regular season schedule is into mid October in the Great North Under 18 Hockey League. But it is an under 16 level team that scored a recent upset win over one of the pace setters.
An over time tally by Tanner Morris lifted the Sudbury U16 Wolves to their first win of the season after three losses, a come from behind 4-3 stunner over the Soo U18 Jr. Greyhounds. Morris, a 5 foot 11, 180 pound defenseman with a 2009 birth date, is an early prospect for the 2025 Ontario Hockey League priority selections draft.
Meanwhile, with a record of 5-1-2, the U18 Hounds are one of three teams in the nine member GNU18HL with five victories to date — the 5-0-0 North Bay U18 Trappers and the 5-2-0 Timmins Majors are the others. Following the top three in the standings are the Sudbury U18 Wolves at 3-2-1, the Soo U16 Jr. Greyhounds at 3-2-0, the New Liskeard Cubs at 3-4-0, the U16 Wolves of Sudbury at 1-3-0, and the Kapuskasing Flyers and North Bay U16 Trappers, both with 0-4-0 records.
The U18 Hounds boast the league’s leading scorer in Danny MacDonald, who has six goals, 10 assists, 16 points A 2008 birth year forward, MacDonald was a 15th round pick by the Sudbury Wolves at the 2024 OHL priority selections draft.
Meanwhile, three 2009 birth year youngsters with the U16 Hounds are off to impressive offensive starts through five games. Adam Pszeniczny has six goals, six assists, 12 points while Nico Bossio and Wyatt Jarratt both have 4-4-8 totals.