While the World Junior Hockey Championships certainly gathers much of the attention for local sports fans at this time of year, there's still Sudbury teams taking part in holiday tournaments across the province. Following are a couple of quick updates for some of the teams that we are aware of:

It turns out that a round robin record of 1-2-1 was enough to advance the Sudbury Minor Peewee "AAA" Wolves through to quarter-final action, but that was as far as they would go. The Minor Peewees salvaged a 3-3 with the host Oakville Rangers, moving on to face the undefeated Lambton Jr Sting (4-0), who blanked Sudbury 5-0 before being eliminated, 3-0 by the Burlington Eagles.

An outstanding and well-contested championship final sees the Hamilton Bulldogs (beat Sudbury 8-1 in preliminary round action) slip past the Eagles 2-1. The event drew 17 teams from across Ontario, including a pair of squads from both Markham and Mississauga and one representative from North Jersey.

In Major Peewee "AAA" tournament action, the Nickel City Sons, relegated to the Consolation draw after posting a 1-2 record in round robin play, managed to advance to the semi-final on their side of the draw before bowing out of the pretigious Bauer Challenge Cup. After splitting their opening two games (with Barrie and Rochester), the Sons dropped a 6-0 decision to the powerful Toronto Marlboros in a contest that saw the locals play fairly even for the bulk of the game, according to assistant coach John Sauve.

"We had a post and a crossbar in the first and, I think, won the period", noted Sauve in an email. "We fell apart in the second and were down 4-0. The third, we played full offense and gave up two more. We are right there - we know now that we can compete with the big teams." Knocked out of Championship playoff action, the Sons rebounded to whip the Wheatfield Blades 7-1 before falling 3-2 to the Toronto Nationals.

Eventually, the Nationals dropped a 4-2 decision to the Valley Jr Warriors in the consolation final while the Toronto Marlboros edged the Jr Canadians 4-3 in an all-GTHL final.

Another solid contingent of Sudbury-based entries heading to the nation's capital as the 10th annual Bell Capital Cup welcomes an international field of minor hockey teams again this year. Following are results for the local squads that we were able to identify:

A heart-breaking double overtime loss to the Oakville Hornets spells the end of a fairly successful run for the Peewee "AA" Lady Wolves. The team opened with a 3-1 win over the Nepean Wildcats as Kyla Boyd, Karli shell and Kennedy Lanktree scored in the opening two periods, lifting Sudbury to the win.

The Lady Wolves doubled the London Devilettes 4-2 thanks to a balanced scoring attack as Kennedy Lanktree, Kathleen Bertuzzi, Summer Butterfly and Karli Shell all found the back of the net for coach Steve Blinn. A 2-1 third period lead evaporates in game three as the Brampton Canadettes fight back to post a 3-2 win.

Lanktree and Shell account for the Sudbury scoring, as the team moves on to semi-final play. Once again, the Lady Wolves failed to maintain a lead late in the game as Cassidy MacPherson scored with just two minutes remaining to send the contest to overtime. Kennedy Lanktree and Deidre Debassige had lifted Sudbury to a 2-1 lead after the second period before the Hornets draw even, netting the game winner in double overtime on the power play.

Oakville moves on to face the Gloucester Cumberland Stars on New Year's Day in the championship affair.

Quite a performance to date for the Valley East Rebels Major Atoms who have worked their way to the semi-finals of the Major Atom "AAA" division in Ottawa. The Rebels got things rolling early on Wednesday, blanking the North Central Predators 2-0 as Bryson McLaughlin and Damien Giroux scored once each in the second period, providing the margin of victory.

Make it two straight for the Valley crew who crush the New Jersey Devils 9-2 behind a four goal performance from Daniel Walker. Mason Blinn, Bradley Chenier, Caleb Rich, Cameron Mostoway and Damien Giroux added one goal apiece for the Rebels. Coach Richard walker and company remain unbeaten Thursday morning with a 3-0 whitewash of the Burnaby winter Club Bruins as Daniel Walker chalks up his fifth and sixth goals of the tournament in the first period for the early lead.

Kory Landry adds a little insurance midway through the third as the team prepares to wrap up preliminary round play. All but assured a spot in the quarter-finals, the Rebels tasted defeat for the first time, dropping a 3-1 decision to the New England Jr Falcons. Kory Landry picked up the only Valley East marker, scoring in the second to draw the Rebels to within one, as close as they would get.

No hangover into the playoff round as the Valley boys upend the Ottawa Valley Titans 5-2, with Kyle Preseau, pacing the attack with a two-goal effort. Cameron Mostoway, Bradley Chenier and Daniel Walker handle the remaining scoring, with the Rebels moving on to face the New Jersey Colonials Friday afternoon at 5:40 p.m.

A pair of local entries find themselves among the 16-team field seeking the Minor Atom "AA" championship. Neither the Sudbury Bulldogs nor the Nickel Centre Flyers advanced to semi-final play as divisional winners, although both teams enjoyed some success at this level. The Bulldogs opened with back to back wins over the Eastern Ontario Cobras (3-1) and Brampton Battalion (2-0) before being sent to the sidelines courtesy of the Gloucester Rangers Green, losing 4-1.

Brett Jacklin scored three goals for the Dogs, Mathieu Dokis-Dupuis added a pair and Julian Simeoni chipped in with a singleton for the team which holds down fourth place in Nickel District standings, just one point back of both Walden and Nickel Centre. Speaking of which, the Flyers continued to prepare for the International Silver Stick, picking up a win and two losses as they moved up to a "AA" category for the Bell Capital Cup.

Nickel Centre bounced the Markham Waxers 3-1 in their first game, sparked by a two-goal performance from Shane Poitras. Defenseman Ethan Lavallee scored the remaining marker for the Flyers, who were held completely off the scoresheet in game two, blanked 5-0 by the Whitby Wildcats.

Another tough one to close out round robin play as the Cumberland Jr Grads jump out to a 5-0 lead, dumping the Flyers 6-1 as only Nicholas Crawford was able to solve the Grads goaltender for the local side.

An astounding 71-team field in the Atom House League "B" category sees the Walden Bruins split their opening four games, before finally hitting the showers after a 5-1 loss to the South Grenville Rangers. Some pretty decent competition for the Walden squad as the Ottawa East Wolves slip past the Bruins 5-4, in spite of two-goal games from both Erik Laframboise and Max MacGillivray.

Another tight one in game two as Walden plays to a one all draw with the Brockville Jr Braves, receiving a late goal from MacGillivray to pull even. MacGillivray continues to hold the hot hand in game three, scoring five times as the Bruins stop the Ottawa East Bombers 8-2. Michael Sawyer, Braeden Hanna and Brody Howland tallied one goal apiece for Walden.

A pair of unanswered third period goals prove to be the difference as the Bruins double the Cumberland Ice Dogs 4-2, with MacGillivray and Laframboise drilling a pair of goals each. Needing a win to move on in elimination play, Walden drops a 5-1 decision to South Grenville as Erik Laframboise chalks up his fifth goal of the tournament.

A 1-2 record was not enough to advance as the Sudbury Bulldogs find themselves three and out in the Major Atom "AA" division of the Bell Capital Cup. Sudbury were on the wrong end of 5-2 and 4-1 losses to the Cumberland Jr Grads and Pittsburgh Aviators respectively, before leaving the nation's capital on a winning note thanks to a 4-1 victory over the Clarington Toros.

Devun St Pierre was the offensive catalyst for the Bulldogs, scoring five of his teams seven goals, with Billy Moskal and Justin Lefrancois potting one goal apiece.

Tough sledding for the Big Nickel Ice Bears, sporting an 0-2 mark with one game still on the schedule in Ottawa. The Bears were beaten 3-0 by the Webster Cyclones on Wednesday morning, before being humbled 10-1 by the Kanata Blazers as Tristan Burkholder finally broke the goose-egg for the local crew.

The team finishes off round robin play on Friday, battling the Innisfil Winterhawks before returning home to the Nickel City.