Hitting the road later this week for their first tournament action of the 2025-2026 season, the Sudbury U18 AA Lady Wolves were likely quite thankful for at least one solid test before tackling the Stoney Creek U18 AA Showcase on Friday.
Bypassing the Etobicoke pre-season series this year in favour of a more northernly offering, the Lady Wolves cruised through their first two games at home on Friday, bouncing the North Bay Jr Lakers 5-1 and thumping the Soo Jr Greyhounds 9-1.
A 2-2 draw with the Barrie Sharks on Saturday was far more in line with what the Sudbury crew should expect in at least some of their games in Hamilton as coach André Brunette and company navigate a preliminary schedule that features Team Illinois, the Culver Academy (Culver, Indiana), the Belleville Bearcats and Scarborough Sharks.
"At this point in the season, a tournament is a gauge to see where you are at and where your areas of improvement are needed," said Brunette. "It's an analysis of our team to see where we need to move on."
Certainly no issues with the first two exhibition encounters as the Lady Wolves rode a two-goal performance from Ella Sabourin and solo tallies from Trinity Cheechoo, Joely Angus and Leah Salo to victory over North Bay.
The offense was once again firing on all cylinders in game two as Ella Sabourin, Gabby Cholette and Lia Gallo all enjoyed two goal efforts with the balance of scoring coming courtesy of Leah Salo, Avery Minnini and Reese Williamson.
Game three remained scoreless until late in the first period when Leah Salo broke free with her team a man down and bounced a backhand off the far post and in to break the ice.
Just minutes into the middle stanza, Trinity Cheechoo stepped in from her perch on the blueline, cutting off an outlet pass, showcasing a nifty little toe drag before tucking the puck upstairs to double the advantage.
After twice hitting iron, Barrie finally got on the board as a point shot ricochet in off a Sudbury defender, with the Sharks pulling even in the third, the result of another pretty play.
"We need to clean up our first outlet pass and a little bit of the "D" zone coverage," suggested Brunette. "We get puck focused at times and need a little bit more discipline to clean up on the "D" side of the puck and we should be good."
"I think we have a lot to build off from last year, some really good pieces," he added. "We have some good additions and good carryovers - so we're looking forward to this year."
Rounding out the Sudbury roster are returning goaltenders Chloe Trudeau and Kate Bouchard and skaters Gaby Foreshew, Hannah Adler, Maia Hammell, Ryan Snow, Ryann Chevrier, Rylee Morris and Payton Cyr.
