The fifth and deciding game of the NOHL (Northern Ontario "AAA" Hockey League) Minor Peewee final between the between the Soo Greyhounds and Nickel City Sons might have featured far more scoring than the first four encounters, but it was every bit as close as its predecessors.
Two goal performances by Miguel Renaud, Reid Lafrance and Billy Biedermann lifted the Sons to an 8-6 win over the Hounds in Sault Ste Marie on Saturday, as Nickel City overcame a two games to one series deficit before capturing the final two match-ups, and with it, the NOHA championship banner.
Kohen Crane and Owen Myre rounded out the scoring for the winners, with Cooper Foster exploding for a quartet of markers for the Greyhounds, joined on the scoresheet by Carter Lidstone and Carmine Perna.
After netting 21 goals in games one through four combined, the teams proceeded to turn a 1-1 first period deadlock into a wild shootout, potting six goals in both the second and third periods.
Fans were treated to captivating drama each and every game, with the scoreboard reading 4-2 (SSM), 3-2 (NC), 4-3 (SSM) and 2-1 (NC) in the contests leading up to the grand finale.
The Greyhounds had finished first in regular season play with a record of 19-4-3, five points ahead of the Sons (17-5-2). First round post-season play would see Sault Ste Marie sweep past the North Bay Trappers in three games, while Nickel City went to four with the Sudbury Wolves.
Rounding out the Minor Peewee "AAA" Sons 2016-2017 roster were Logan Carr, Alex Coulombe, Bryson Smith, Brady Bouchard, Kyle Dessureault, Carson Crane, Hugh Campbell, Alex Pharand, Derrick Lecuyer, Noah Kohan, head coach Chris Fillator, as well as assistant coaches Eric Coutu, Dale Lafrance, John Carr and trainer Dale Kohan.
