Bonjour from the North — three cities, one corridor, and the stories that don't make it south of Barrie.

### The Hounds just landed a new player for 2025

Okay, so you know I bleed red and white for the Hounds, right? Like, since I was a kid watching games at the Memorial Gardens. We’re always looking at what’s next, especially after a season that, well, could’ve gone better. So when Kyle Raftis and the team announced they’ve signed Doman Kristof Szongoth, a forward from the 2025 CHL Import Draft, it got my attention. It’s not just another name; this kid was a first-round pick.

Now, you might be thinking, "2025, Marc-André? That's a long way off." And yeah, it is. But this is how you build a team, *mon ami*. You draft talent, you nurture it, and you get them ready to skate on the ice at the GFL Memorial Gardens. He’s from Hungary, and you know the imports can sometimes take a bit to adjust to our style of play – it’s a physical game here in the OHL. But a first-round import pick? That’s not a flyer; that’s an investment.

#### Why This Matters for the Sault

* **Long-Term Vision:** This shows the Greyhounds are thinking ahead, not just for next season, but for the years to come. You can’t just live game-to-game if you want to hang banners.

* **International Flair:** Bringing in European talent always adds a different dimension to the team. They see the game differently sometimes, and that can be a real asset.

* **Community Pride:** When the Hounds do well, the whole city feels it. It’s part of our identity, as much as the steel plant or the International Bridge. A good draft pick like this gets people buzzing, talking about the future.

This kind of move, even a couple of years out, is the kind of thing that keeps the hockey fire burning in the Sault. We need those bright spots, those glimpses of future glory on the ice, especially when the long winter sets in. It gives us something to look forward to beyond the lake freezing over and the first snow on the Agawa Canyon hills.

Marc-André Desjardins, Sault Ste. Marie.

You know Keith and the crew are talking about this on the show – tune in live at mornings.live.