Midget AA Lady Wolves best Wildcats

The Sudbury Midget AA Lady Wolves have kicked off the defence of their provincial championship title in exactly the same manner they opened their highly successful 2013-2014 campaign — with a pair of exhibition wins over the Sault Ste. Marie Wildcats.

The local midgets bested their northern Ontario rivals 5-1 and 4-2 in a two-game set Sunday in Elliot Lake, preparing for the start to their tournament schedule on Labour Day weekend in Vermont.

Taylor McGaughey paced the attack in Game 1 with a two-goal effort, with solo tallies coming courtesy of Sydney Walker, Deidre Debassige and Meagan McGaughey.

Walker and Meagan McGaughey were back on the scoresheet in Game 2, joined by Sophie Lebrun and Karli Shell. Netminders Danika Lefrançois and Danika Ranger split the duties between the pipes, with the team home until Thursday, when they leave for the 13th annual NAHA Labor Day Tournament.

Sudbury will face both the Minnesota Whitecaps and Connecticut Polar Bears on Friday, battling the Bay State Breakers (Maine) on Saturday before moving on based on their round-robin placement.

The team has been moved to the U16/Midget division this year, after participating in the U19/Intermediate grouping the past few years. Other Canadian entries in the division include the Stoney Creek Sabres, Nepean Sabres and Kanata Senators.

Also on hand for the tournament will be midget Lady Wolves graduate Marley Patterson, who is patrolling the blue-line with the Nepean Intermediate Wildcats this winter.