By Bill Potrecz at BP Sports Niagara
Dylan Greenwald and the Fort Erie Meteors could not have asked for a better start to the 2026/27 Greater Ontario Hockey League season.
Greenwald scored four goals as the Meteors cruised to a 9-3 victory over the visiting Port Colborne Sailors Saturday night at the Leisureplex in the regular season opener for both teams.
“It’s been a while,” Greenwald smiled when asked if he remembered the last time he netted four in a game. “It felt really nice. I mean, especially opening night, you just want to start strong.”
Greenwald, a 19-year-old Illinois native, gave the Meteors a boost after arriving last season with 12 goals and 31 points in 34 games before adding 15 points in 15 playoff contests.
With leading scorer Sam Tonelli lost to graduation, Greenwald will be called upon to help fill those massive shoes.
“I think it’s important, but, I mean, I don’t want to count on four goals a night, but we have a lot of other good guys on this team,” Greenwald said. “I’m not going to have to step up too much. We have a lot of good guys to throw their way.
“We have four lines that can score and are a threat every time, basically. It’s a nice, safer feeling.”
Mets head coach/general manager Nik Passero has high hopes for the slick centre this season.
“He’s got to step up, but he knows that,” Passero said. “He was great in the playoffs last year. He knows his role, and he’s going to lead us with some other guys. We’ve got some firepower up front, but he’s a great leader in that aspect.”
Passero loves Greenwald’s skill set.
“He holds on to pucks, he passes the puck on a stick, and he shoots like a pro. Those are all pretty good attributes.”
With so many skilled forwards, Passero admits getting everyone enough touches could be an issue.
“It’s definitely something we think and worry about. I hope that our leadership group can get it across that we’re here to win and everyone will get their cookies,” he said.
The Meteors raced out to a 3-0 lead after one before the Sailors responded with three of their own in the second to trail 7-3 after two.
“Well, scoring early is nice and kind of settles in a little bit. But, you know, in the second period, we give up three, which is something that we’re not accustomed to and something I don’t want to make a theme here, so we’ll fix that a little bit,” Passero said.
With four newcomers on the blueline, it could take some time for the rearguards to develop some chemistry.
“You’ve got to be simple. You know some of them, first junior game, and you’ve got to relax. I’m hard on these guys, and I was hard all training camp, and I think it paid off today,” Passero said.
Passero also singled out defenceman Alex Masotti for a strong effort as well as rookie Hudson Ellis, who netted a goal and two assists in his junior debut. Ellis is the son of former NHL foward and Welland native Matt Ellis.
Meteors 9 Sailors 3
