The Sudbury U14 AAA Wolves are 11-0-0 opposite the Soo U14 AAA Jr Greyhounds this year in NOHL Northern Ontario AAA Hockey League play this year.

Unfortunately, the Hounds are the only other team in the league that the Wolves are facing this winter.

It's a less than ideal situation, but one in which the Wolves are trying hard to play to their level, knowing that the push will come in tournament play and such. Sometimes there's a let down - though not one which has cost Sudbury a victory just yet.

Two weekends ago, the Wolves triple the Greyhounds 6-2 in a Saturday evening encounter, only to pummel the visitors 16-1 the very next morning.

Understandably, frustration is building - all while the locals who earned silver at the 2023 OHF U13 AAA Championships in Thunder Bay last spring try and make the best of it.

"In games like this, we try our new systems, we try our new plays - try and find out what works," noted forward Zacharie Paul, in his first year with the team and author of a two-goal performance in the 6-2 triumph.

"We try not to engage them too much, but it's hard some times when the other team is coming at you."

No surprise that after finishing second in the province, much of the Sudbury AAA Wolves lineup returned intact this fall - a true testament to the work that Paul absorbed, such was his intention to make the team.

"I've played AA my whole life - but the extra ice and hours spent in my basement and countless, countless hours of training all helped," he said.

"I am still trying to adjust to the speed, to get to that same level that some of our top players are at. They are always in there; they are always intense. I need to work on being in the corners more and not being afraid."

Joining Paul on the scoresheet for Sudbury were Dacey Dupuis (2), Ryan Thompson and Cooper Niquet while Gabe Guzzo and Max Bumbacco countered for Sault Ste Marie.

While his offensive game is sliding nicely into place, Paul admitted that it's not so much the defensive systems that vary in moving from AA to AAA - but far more the overall approach to the importance of that role.

"It's all kind of the same - but the details are more set at this level," he explained. "In AA, it's a little more of a scramble. Here, you do your job or you're not going to get a chance to try it again."

The Jr Greyhounds are back in town for another two game set on January 12th and 13th, with Sudbury making the trip to the Lock City on January 27th and 28th.