Posted by Sudbury Northern Life 
The final series in both the Great North Midget League
(GNML) and Northern Ontario Bantam AAA Hockey League (NOBHL)
garnered a good chunk of the local media spotlight this past
weekend. And for good reason.
The Nickel City Sons Bantams, completing their historic
championship voyage in Levack, downing the Soo Greyhounds three
games to one, and ensuring all five franchises within the NOBHL
have now captured the league bragging rights at least once
since the group was initiated back in 1995.
The Nickel Capital Wolves - coming much closer than most
expected they would to repeating as GNML champs - dropped three
consecutive one-goal decisions to the Soo North Stars, after
spanking the league powerhouse in the opener.
But those weren't the only hockey venues providing
entertainment in Greater Sudbury recently, not with no less
than five NOHA Tournament of Champion divisional crowns up for
grabs. Not to mention a drama-filled afternoon of house league
hockey match-ups in Walden which couldn't have produced closer
results, as the Jiggy Jamieson Friendship Tournament kicked off
its first of two weekend schedules.
At the Countryside Arena, a Peewee AAA representative from the
north emerged from a five-team field for the first time in NOHA
history. Traditionally, this series amounts to a six-point
affair between Sudbury and Sault Ste. Marie, sometimes loaded
with drama, sometimes not.
All eyes were on hand Friday in the playdown opener, as the
Sons and Wolves launched their rivalry at the Peewee level in a
contest that pitted countless teammates, from one year ago,
head to-head.
Early bragging rights went the way of the Wolves, who defeated
Nickel City 3-1, on the strength of goals from Dylan Callaghan,
Connor Burgess and Marcus Weistche, with Ryan Punkari answering
for the Sons.
Sudbury followed that victory up with a 4-0 whitewashing of
North Bay, a competitive 3-1 loss to the Soo Pino's Greyhounds,
and an uninspiring 2-0 win over Timmins - enough to secure
second place after round robin play, creating a Sunday morning
semifinal rematch with the dreaded Sons.
The game went the way of the District foe, as Trent Mallette,
Patrick Sivret and Cray Roberge found the back of the net in a
3-1 Nickel City win over Sudbury. Kurtis Clouthier scored the
only goal for the Wolves as the Sons advanced to face the
Hounds.
And as one might fear, the somewhat expected emotional letdown
produces a less than stellar final as Sault Ste. Marie
clobbered Nickel City 9-0, with Jaren Bellini and Anthony
Stefano pacing the attack with two goals each.
In fairness, the Greyhound squad - coached by former OHLer Fred
Perlini - was consistently noted as the class of the
tournament, posting an undefeated mark in earning a trip to the
All-Ontario championships in Nottawasaga.
Off to Carmichael, where Sudbury and the Soo went toe-to-toe
one more time, this time at the Minor Bantam AAA level, as the
six-point series kicked off Friday afternoon. With a solid core
of players, who formed part of the bronze medal-winning team
one year ago at the Provincial Peewee AAA playdowns back on
hand, the Sudbury crew grew stronger as play continued.
A scoreless opening game draw (shutouts to Kristian Leger of
Sudbury and Mathieu Ouellet of the Soo) was followed by an
exciting 5-4 victory for the Wolves Friday evening. Not that
close on Saturday, as Sudbury swept a pair of games, 6-2 and
5-0, with Charlie Venedam leading all Wolves scorers with four
goals in as many games.
The Major Atom tradition in Valley East looked to be in good
hands again in 2009-2010, as coach Steve Blinn and company
guided the Minor Atom Rebels to the A/AA title Sunday afternoon
at Carmichael Arena. Seven different players hit the scoresheet
as Valley East thumped West Ferris 7-0 after surviving a 5-4
semi-final scare against Copper Cliff earlier in the day.
Randy Pascal is the voice of Persona 10 Sports and the founder
of SudburySports.com.
