Sometimes, hockey championship weekends play out as the should - and sometimes, there are surprises.

The U10 A Division of the Nickel District Minor Hockey League had elements of both as the league playdowns were staged recently in Sudbury.

With a four team preliminary round in effect, it would be the Copper Cliff U10 A Reds who would top the standings with a record of 3-0-1 - this after finishing fourth in regular season play with a mark of 4-18-1.

At the other end of the spectrum, the Nickel City Cubs, owners of a 17-4-2 mark that topped the division this winter now had to work their way through a tough semi-final battle with the North Bay Trappers in order to meet the Reds in the final.

A wide open affair at the Toe Blake Arena saw Nickel City get the better of North Bay (14-7-3 - regular season) by a final score of 8-5, setting up a rematch of the teams that had played to a 1-1 draw on Friday morning.

The encounter was worthy of a gold medal affair, with Copper Cliff playing their best hockey of the season, forcing overtime with the Cubs before Joshua Cockburn buried the game-winning goal with the teams playing three on three hockey.

The balance of the Nickel City U10 A Cubs roster features Benjamin Gervais, Emile Charbonneau, Enzo Bradley, Ethan Watkins, Félix Pilon, Fionn McHugh, Jacob Lachapelle, Jax Cooney, Jérémi Nadeau, Joshua McKay, Kade Rochon, Kolton Ferguson, Nathan Dutrisac, Noah Garneau, Theodore Gareau and Zackarie Paquette.

The team staff is comprised of head coach André Pilon, assistant coaches Josh Cooney and Dan Charbonneau, trainers Mitch Garneau, Tyler Cockburn and Scott Dutrisac and team manager Katharine Cockburn.