An inter-club quarter-final loss was disappointing, to be sure – but it was not about to define the Challenge Cup – Championship D weekend for the Northern Chill 17U Black Cyclones.

Competing at the Athlete Institute in Mono, just outside of Orangeville, the Sudbury squad went the distance in back to back pool games in the morning, winning one and losing one to finish second in Pool A.

The Black Cyclones outlasted the Titans Valkyrie from Scarborough 25-17, 26-28, 15-12 in their opening encounter but dropped game number two to the Georgian Cubs Carnage (Barrie), 23-25, 25-20, 6-15.

This would bring them into a head to head matchup with the Northern Chill 16U Heatwave, the latter recording a 8-25, 25-23, 15-12 victory to bounce the Cyclones from the top four. As luck would have it, the battle for fifth place would pit the Chill against the Titans Valkyrie for a second time, with the northern squad completing the sweep, 25-18, 25-16.

The 17U Black Cyclones will now have to wait until the final weekend of January to resume OVA tournament action, travelling to Hamilton on (Sunday) February 1st to partake in a McGregor Cup – Championship D single day tournament.

The 2025-2026 Northern Chill 17U Black Cyclones are: Josslyne Ouellette, Caelyn Mahoney, Rebecca George, Sarah Crittenden, Mina-Emilly McCoshen, Harlym Triff, Marissa MacLean, Adelina Naghi, Chloé Carrier, Cassidy Warren, head coach Tess Peterson, assistant coach Rylee Thompson and team manager Jennifer Warren.