Soo Greyhounds Trim Roster to 28 Ahead of Pre-Season Opener

URGENT UPDATE: The Soo Greyhounds have officially cut their roster to 28 players as they prepare for their first exhibition game against the Sudbury Wolves on August 27, 2023. With the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) regular season just three weeks away, the team is shifting gears after concluding a rigorous training camp highlighted by the annual Luke Williams Memorial Red and White game.

General Manager Kyle Raftis expressed optimism about the team’s progress during the three-day training camp that kicked off on August 23. “It was good to see the guys build some chemistry as the week went on,” Raftis stated. He noted that while players showed signs of fatigue, the intense pace of the camp was essential to their readiness.

As the team prepares for their pre-season opener, Raftis revealed that cutting players is always a challenging task. “It’s never easy. The kids want it so badly,” he lamented, emphasizing the emotional weight of the cuts. The decision to retain extra players was influenced by some athletes attending NHL camps, providing valuable exposure.

In a concerning turn, goaltender Noah Tegelaar exited the Red/White game early due to injury, but Raftis reassured fans that the situation “didn’t sound too bad.” Tegelaar is one of three netminders remaining with the team following Friday’s cuts. The only goaltender released was Jack Ferguson.

Alongside Ferguson, the Greyhounds also reassigned defencemen Charlie Ashcroft, Evan Pahanich, and Christopher Weiss, as well as forwards Tyler Bruce, Cam Anderson, Nolan Long, Simon Wang, Owen Kelly, Karsten Barbeau, James Elliott, and Vincent Arnone.

The Greyhounds’ roster now stands at 28 players, gearing up for what promises to be an exhilarating pre-season. Fans can catch the action at the GFL Memorial Gardens this Sunday as the team faces off against the Sudbury Wolves in the first of four exhibition matchups.

Stay tuned for more updates as the Soo Greyhounds aim to solidify their roster and make a strong push for the upcoming season!