Frontenacs edge Wolves in tight pre-season finish
The Kingston Frontenacs closed out Ontario Hockey League pre-season play with a 4-3 victory over the Sudbury Wolves on Saturday afternoon at Ray Twinney Recreation Complex in Newmarket.
It was a close-checking affair throughout as a Sudbury roster carrying a lengthy list of scratches kept pace for much of the game before Kingston pulled ahead. The result leaves the Wolves with a 3-3 pre-season record as they prepare to open the regular season.
Kingston’s offence produced four different goals, with Brody Cook, Aleks Kulemin, Alex Misiak and Tanner Nettleton registered as goal scorers for the Frontenacs in the exhibition finale. The balanced attack provided the margin of victory in a game where Sudbury had its share of chances.
- Final score: Kingston 4, Sudbury 3
- Venue: Ray Twinney Recreation Complex, Newmarket
- Sudbury pre-season record: 3-3
Earlier in pre-season action, another Kingston player, Harris, notched his second exhibition goal and rookie forward Parker Smith added his third. For Sudbury, NHL draft-eligible defenceman Genc Ula also scored and had support from teammates who recorded assists.
“We kept pace for most of the game but just couldn’t get over the hump,” said a member of the Sudbury club in a game summary. “There were missed opportunities and some good moments, but the result wasn’t what we wanted.”
Goaltending and special teams
Netminding duties were shared in the local crease, with Paolo Frasca and Owen Leonard combining for Sudbury. Frasca stopped 13 of 16 shots he faced while Leonard made 7 of 8 saves after taking over in relief.
| Goalie | Saves | Shots Faced |
|---|---|---|
| Paolo Frasca | 13 | 16 |
| Owen Leonard | 7 | 8 |
Assists for Sudbury on the Ula marker were credited to Hudson Martin and Colton Colby. The Wolves struggled with availability for the exhibition finale, which was reflected in several lineup changes and the team’s effort to test depth and younger players before the regular season.
What comes next
Sudbury will break from exhibition play and open the OHL regular season this coming Friday when the Peterborough Petes visit Sudbury Community Arena for a 7:05 p.m. start. The pre-season finale gave both clubs a final look at personnel and systems under game conditions ahead of the regular schedule.
For Kingston, the pre-season victory offers momentum and a chance to refine line combinations and special-teams play. For local hockey fans in Kingston and across Eastern Ontario, the Frontenacs enter the regular season having shown they can get contributions from multiple forwards — an encouraging sign for a team that will be tested throughout the OHL campaign.
The exhibition slate — with its mix of veterans, rookies and players vying for roster spots — often leaves questions to be answered in the early regular-season weeks. Saturday’s 4-3 outcome in Newmarket provided one last competitive rehearsal before those questions start to shape the standings and the road ahead for both Kingston and Sudbury.
