The Soo Greyhounds were just one period away from skating off with a hard-fought victory, but the Peterborough Petes had other plans.
What started as a tight defensive battle turned into a frustrating finish for the Hounds, as Peterborough erased a one-goal deficit before striking just 38 seconds into overtime to steal a 2-1 victory.
Midway through the 2nd, Nolan Long pounced on a Peterborough clearing attempt and quickly slid the puck over to Brady Smith. With an opening in front of him, Smith made no mistake, slipping the puck beneath Matthew Koprowski’s pad to give the Soo a 1-0 lead.
The Hounds carried that slim advantage into the final frame, but their lead disappeared almost as quickly as the period began.
Just 16 seconds into the third, Cooper Dennis spoiled the party. Carrying the puck across the blue line with a purpose to bring Peterborough right back into the game.
Both teams searched for the go-ahead goal as the clock wound down, but neither could find the finishing touch. With 60 minutes unable to produce a winner, the game headed to overtime.
Unfortunately for the Hounds, the extra period was over almost before it started.
Just 38 seconds in, Dennis found Leon Kolarik with open ice down the left wing to be exploited. Kolarik wasted little time, taking the pass and snapping a shot past Camputaro blockerside to complete the Petes comeback.
In the span of just over 20 minutes of game time, the Greyhounds went from protecting a one-goal lead to watching the Petes celebrate an overtime winner.
Three Stars of the Game
1st. Leon Kolarik (OT winner)
2nd. Brady Smith (1G)
3rd. Nolan Long (1A)
Standout Player — Jaden Licastro
Jaden Licastro has a way of making difficult defensive plays look routine, and that was on full display in this one. With his combination of size, smooth skating, and an active stick, Licastro gives opposing forwards very little room to breathe. What makes his game so impressive is how quickly he can turn a defensive situation into an opportunity going the other way. One sequence captured that perfectly, as he slid across to the boards to shut down an attacking rush, reached out to knock the puck loose, and wasted no time sending a crisp first pass up ice. There is a certain calmness to his game, never looking rushed or out of position, even when the pressure starts to build. It’s that blend of patience, mobility, and defensive instincts that makes Licastro such an intriguing name to watch as he continues to develop.