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
![](https://www.ctvnews.ca/polopoly_fs/1.6976926.1721883767!/httpImage/image.png_gen/derivatives/landscape_800/image.png)
LIVE UPDATES Critical infrastructure 'successfully protected': Jasper park officials
Jasper National Park officials in an update said all critical infrastructure in the townsite has been 'successfully protected, including the hospital, emergency services building, both elementary and junior/senior schools, activity centre and wastewater treatment plant.'
Canadian Olympic Committee removes women's soccer team's head coach over drone scandal
The Canadian Olympic Committee has removed women's national soccer team head coach Bev Priestman over a drone scandal, according to a press release from the organization.
Yukon woman narrowly escapes bear attack, credits hair clip
A woman in Yukon believes her hair clip helped save her during a bear attack.
Prince William's 2023 salary revealed in new report
Newly released financial reports show that William, the Prince of Wales, drew a salary of $42.1 million last fiscal year, his first since inheriting the vast and lucrative Duchy of Cornwall.
'I was just shocked': Jasper lodge owner on seeing property destroyed by wildfire
On Wednesday night, the owner of Maligne Lodge in Jasper, Alta., was shocked to receive a photo of her business engulfed in flames.
Mary-Ellen Turpel-Lafond likely has Indigenous DNA: report
The Law Society of British Columbia says a DNA test shows a former judge and Order of Canada recipient accused of falsely claiming to be Cree "most likely" has Indigenous heritage.
U.S. authorities have arrested 'El Mayo' Zambada, a historic leader of Mexico's Sinaloa cartel
Ismael 'El Mayo' Zambada, a historic leader of Mexico's Sinaloa cartel, and Joaquin Guzman Lopez, a son of another infamous cartel leader, were arrested by U.S. authorities in Texas on Thursday, the U.S. Justice Department said.
Harris pushes Netanyahu to ease suffering in Gaza: 'I will not be silent'
U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris pressured Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday to help reach a Gaza ceasefire deal that would ease the suffering of Palestinian civilians, striking a tougher tone than President Joe Biden.
'She led it the whole way': 18-year-old B.C. woman leads hikers to safety in Jasper National Park
As fire threatened people in Jasper National Park, Colleen Knull sprung into action.