This time around, the Nickel City U11 A Jr Sons were not about to leave it to the very last minute.

A couple of months back, the Jr Sons needed a goal in the final few seconds of play to eke out a 5-4 win in an exhibition outing against the Sudbury U11 A Lady Wolves.

The rematch this past weekend was equally as exciting, with up and down action at a frenetic pace that had the fans on hand constantly on the edge of their seats.

It wasn't until Alex Bruno netted his first goal of the year with under three minutes remaining, giving Nickel City a 5-3 lead, that the Jr Sons staff could breathe a little easier.

"My teammate shot it and I took the rebound and buried it," said Bruno after the game. "I was thinking about (putting it) close to the post because that was the most open spot I could find."

Always looking to improve his game, the nine year old grade four student at Ecole Catholique Jean-Paul II in Val Caron suggested that he can certainly focus a little more on one area that is very much within his own control.

"Working harder," Bruno exclaimed. "I think I have to start doing that more. I was slow on a couple of shifts. I need to stay on the same speed that I am used to being."

Joining the talkative and very pleasant youngster on the scoresheet for Nickel City were Evan Pharand, Aiden Dupuis, Thomas Eady and Colton Hearn while Ally Hebert replied with a pair of markers, with Freddy Larose going coast to coast on the other for the Lady Wolves.

Hebert was denied the hat trick when Jr Sons' goaltender Marcus Demore came up with a spectacular splits save, allowing his team to eventually net a much-needed insurance marker.

The U11 A Jr Sons are off to North York this coming weekend, site of The Kennedy, as their tournament is known. The remainder of the Nickel City roster features Brodie Bellmore, Alexandre Diotte, Nicholas Diotte, Caleb Gauthier, Kaiden Hulme, Ben Parker, Jacob Roy, Elliot Sanche, Austen Talbot and Aiden Vaters.

The team staff is comprised of head coach Patrick Diotte, assistant coaches Guy Demore, Noah Sanche, Shane Parker, Ryan Talbot and Kristyn Pascal and trainer/manager Kyla Roy.

With three tournament banners already to their credit, the U11 A Lady Wolves are off to Aurora, site of the International Silver Stick. In round robin play, the Sudbury girls will face the Montgomery Ice Devils (Rockland, MD), the Toronto Leaside Wildcats and the Central York Panthers, with the Easton Lady Dragons from Columbus (Ohio) on the opposite side of the draw.