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A goal by Jacob Smith was the difference as the Soo Jr. Greyhounds won the Great North Under-18 League title on Sunday afternoon.
Smith scored in the final minute of the third period to give the Jr. Greyhounds a 4-3 win over the Sudbury Nickel Capitals U18 team in the final of the Great North League tournament.
After Gabe Palumbo was stopped initially on a partial break, Smith drove the net and scored on the rebound to put the Sault ahead and ultimately win the league title.
Lincoln Moore had a goal and an assist for the Jr. Greyhounds in the victory while Gabe Zimbaro and Harley Wardell also scored.
The Jr. Greyhounds advanced to the playoff round of the tournament after going 1-1-1 in round robin action.
The team picked up a round robin win over the North Bay U18 Trappers by a 7-2 margin and skated to a 2-2 tie with the Sudbury Nickel Capitals U16 team.
The lone loss of the tournament for the Jr. Greyhounds came against the New Liskeard Cubs by a 2-0 margin.
Against North Bay, Smith had a pair of goals to pace the Jr. Greyhounds, who also got goals from Daniel Guzzo, Adrian O’Dell, Austin Fellinger, Lincoln Moore, and Gabe Zimbaro.
Moore had a goal and an assist in the win.
Moore and Zimbaro each picked up a goal while Fellinger assisted on both goals in the tie against Sudbury.
In Saturday’s semifinal, Noah Aboflan had two goals and two assists while Smith scored a pair of goals as the Jr. Greyhounds advance to the final with a 6-2 win over the Timmins Majors.
Fellinger and Christopher Lees had the other goals for the Jr. Greyhounds in the semifinal victory.
The playoff title comes after the Jr. Greyhounds finished first during the regular season with a 20-4-0-0 record.