The next time they step on the ice, the games will have some added meaning.
One week ahead of their Ontario Hockey League regular season opener against the North Bay Battalion, the Soo Greyhounds wrapped up exhibition play with a 4-0 loss on the road against the Sudbury Wolves.
Alex Assadourian and Michael Derbidge had a pair of goals each for the Wolves in the win while goaltender Joe Ranger was perfect between the pipes for the shutout.
After a scoreless opening period, the Wolves got on the board midway through the second period as Assadourian picked up his third goal of the preseason on a power play marker.
Derbidge proceeded to give the Wolves a 2-0 lead 6:45 into the third period, scoring his fourth of the preseason before extending the lead to 4-0 at 14:20.
Just 29 seconds later, Assadourian capped off the scoring with his second of the night for the home side.
Ranger finished the game with 31 saves for the shutout.
Charlie Schenkel got the nod in goal for the Greyhounds, stopping 32 shots.
The Greyhounds return to play on Sept. 30 when they open the regular season against North Bay in the first of two opening-weekend games between the two clubs.
Earlier in the day Friday, the Greyhounds announced the official signing of forward Harrison Ballard, acquired by the club in a trade with the Kingston Frontenacs prior to training camp.
At the time of the trade, Ballard had a commitment to play NCAA hockey with the University of Massachusetts this fall but planned to attend training camp and eventually cracked the Greyhounds roster.