Greater Sudbury Cubs head to national hockey championship
After dealing with the stomach flu and the associated bumps and bruises that accompany a run to a championship, the Greater Sudbury Cubs junior 'A' hockey team is intent on succeeding at the Centennial Cup.
For coach Darryl Moxam, last year's failure to win it all only drove him and the other coaching staff to raise the bar even higher
"Mentally, they're ready to go every time we step on the ice, no matter what we throw at them, they're ready," Moxam said.
"It's like they haven't skipped a beat."
- Download the CTV News app now
- Get local breaking news alerts
- Daily newsletter with the top local stories emailed to your inbox
Technology aside, the big question for Moxam and his staff is all about preparation, when you are about to play teams you don't know much about.
"It's about us. We will prepare, we have scouting reports, but we have to realise we can compete with anybody and go there with a lot of confidence," the coach said.
There's no lack of confidence for the Cubs after they knocked off Blind River and Powassan with a combination of stellar goaltending, defence, speed and scoring.
For goalie Noah Metevier of Sault Ste. Marie, it's a second chance at a title, one that he hopes to make good on with what he calls a "special group of teammates."
"It's like family to me, these guys. Every one of them, they're my brothers in that room and I know that they'd go to war and battle for me," Metevier said.
"And I'd do the exact same thing for them."
A newcomer to the team, Hudson Chitaroni, racked up 22 points in 16 playoff games after a huge regular season where he scored 31 goals.
The native of Marathon, who played higher level hockey in the Sault, said winning the NOJHL title was surreal and his teammates are ready for Game 1 against the Collingwood Blues at the national tournament.
"Obviously, they are a very good team ... I just want to win, I just want to beat them, just do everything we can to beat them," Chitaroni said.
The road to the Centennial Cup won't be an easy one as they face the Blues, one of the top-ranked teams in Canada, on Friday.
Then they'll play the eastern Ontario winner, the Navan Grads, followed by a game with the western Canada champion, the Calgary Canuks, before finally playing College Français de Longueuil of Quebec.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Robert Pickton stabbed with toothbrush and broken broom handle: victim's family
The family of one of Robert Pickton's victims says the convicted serial killer suffered an incredibly violent death at the hands of another inmate.
Tick season is underway in Ontario. Here's how to protect yourself
Tick season is well underway and there is a new species of ticks causing new diseases, which is why you need to take steps to protect yourself.
'It feels like freedom': Why some Albertans like going nude in nature
Few people can say they accidentally purchased a nude beach — but Shelley can. When she saw a piece of land she could fondly remember camping on was up for sale, she inquired about it and ended up purchasing it. She soon found that there were already inhabitants on it.
Five things to know about the NHL playoffs
The Florida Panthers and Edmonton Oilers are both one win away from advancing to the Stanley Cup final.
Is intermittent fasting better than counting calories? Maybe not, but you might stick with it
As weight-loss plans go, it's easy to see the allure of intermittent fasting: Eat what you want, but only during certain windows of time — often just eight hours a day.
Daughter of Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt files court petition to remove father's last name
A daughter of actors Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt filed paperwork to legally remove "Pitt" from her name on the day she turned 18.
Father who killed one-year-old son with axe may be allowed to travel in southwestern Ontario
A Mennonite father who killed his one-year-old son with an axe may be allowed to travel to parts of southern Ontario in the coming months
Two celestial shows will be visible across Canada this week
Canada is getting not one – but two – celestial shows over the next few days. Keep an eye on the sky for the northern lights and parade of planets!
Israel maintains a shadowy hospital in the desert for Gaza detainees. Critics allege mistreatment
Patients lying shackled and blindfolded on more than a dozen beds inside a white tent in the desert. Surgeries performed without adequate painkillers. Doctors who remain anonymous.