It was one of those decisions that is all too rare within the circles of minor hockey. A change that was almost universally acclaimed as a step in the right direction and received near unanimous support from all those involved.

A few years back, the Nickel District Minor Hockey League decided to forego the concept of the “playoff series” at levels Peewee and below. Rather, the NDMHL initiated a weekend tournament format, handing out all ten divisional trophies over the span of three or four days.

With icetime availability, team plans, March break and countless other challenges standing in the way of completing certain post-season match-ups, the move was a welcomed relief to coaches and parents alike.

This past weekend would see the Nickel District gang stage their playoff weekend at three local arenas and while some of the results were quite predictable, a handful of championship affairs did manage to provide a great deal of excitement.

In Novice play, the Sudbury Bulldogs, who lost just one of 24 regular season encounters, completed the post-season sweep, chalking up four straight victories while surrendering just a single goal against. Sudbury blanked the Valley East Rebels 4-0 in the final, garnering the Dan Susteric Novice “A” trophy.

Braedan Dumais paced the Dogs attack with a two-goal effort with singles coming from Carter Wachnuk and Mathieu Dokis-Dupuis. The Al Arbour Novice “B” hardware was awarded to the Walden Devils, courtesy of a 5-1 championship game win over the Nickel Centre Flyers.

Callum Dolphin enjoyed a two-goal outing to lead the way for Walden, with singles coming from Brandon Atkins, Matthew Kvaltin and Samuel Sirkka. Logan Davidson replied with the only Nickel Centre goal.

Dominance reigned atop the Minor Atom division as well. Just a few weeks removed from capturing the NOHA Minor Atom “A” banner, the Valley East Rebels completed an impressive season with a 6-0 whitewashing of the Sudbury Bulldogs to lay claim to the Al Secord “A” championship.

Bradley Chenier, with two, Alexandre Baronette, Ryan Boudreau, Cameron Mostoway and Damien Giroux accounted for the Valley East goals as the group of 1999-born Rebels attempts to follow in the footsteps of two very successful Major Atom teams in the past two years come next September.

A great deal more excitement for the Minor Atom “B” final as the Sudbury Lady Wolves enjoyed a 2-0 lead late in the gold medal game, only to see the Manitoulin Panthers send the game to overtime on goals from Trenton Bond and Jackson Linklater.

But roughly three minutes into the second overtime period, Alyssa Charsley took a centering pass and slid it home for the game-winning marker, earning her team the George Armstrong “B” championship trophy. Haley Moskal and Ashley McKerral had staked the girls to a 2-0 lead earlier in the game.

The Toe Blake championship “A” banner was on the line as the Valley East Rebel Major Atoms attempted to add the playoff title to their regular season crown. And while the Walden Devils had managed to get the better of the Rebels on a couple of occasions early in the season, that wasn’t the case this past Sunday as Valley East bounced the Devils 5-0.

Broedy Bertrand (2), Brad Boivin, Dustin Theriault and David Ranger all managed to find the back of the net for the Rebels, one of four local teams preparing for upcoming OHF championships on Easter weekend.

As was the case in the Minor Atom division, it was the “B” championship that provided the bulk of the drama. Evan Davies netted his second goal of the game with just 51 seconds remaining to lift the Copper Cliff Redmen past the Rayside-Balfour Tigers 4-3 as the 5th place finishers in regular season play walked away with the Gerry McCrory banner.

Nicholas Greasley and Patrick Lapointe rounded out the scoring for Copper Cliff while Austin Burke, with two, and Korbin Cecchini-McAuley replied in a losing cause for the Tigers.

Perhaps the most well contested of all the “A” championships at the Minor Peewee level, which should come as no great surprise as the Sudbury Bulldogs, Walden and Copper Cliff were separated by just six points atop league standings.

When the dust settled on Sunday, it was the Bulldogs who emerged carrying the Eddie Shack Trophy, knocking off the Walden Devils 5-3 in the final. A well-balanced Sudbury attack would see Bradley Sutton, Duncan Stewart, Pierce Wallingford, Brad Mackenzie and Cameron Quenville all find the back of the net for the Bulldogs.

Jason Bednarski answered with a pair of goals for Walden, with Curtis Schryer chipping in with a single. In the Jim Pappin “B” final, Connor Vaillancourt netted a pair of goals, helping to lift the Copper Cliff Redmen past the Valley East Rebels 4-0. Tyler Soulliere and Matthew Lewis rounded out the scoring for the victors.

And finally, the Major Peewee grouping rounded off the festivities out in Azilda as the Copper Cliff Redmen, yet another OHF qualifying team, squeaked past the Sudbury Minor Peewee “AAA” Wolves 2-1 to secure the Art Beaupre “A” championship while the Valley East Rebels fought back from an early 2-0 deficit, doubling the Nickel Centre Flyers 6-3 and walking away with the Frank St Marseille “B” banner.

Complete game and goal scoring results from the weekend are as follows:

Novice Division

Nickel Centre Flyers 8 (Shane Poitras-3, Tommy Vlahos-2, Griffen Simpson, Nick Crawford, Julien Marshall)
Rayside-Balfour Tigers 1 (Joseph Mazur)

Sudbury Bulldogs 7 (Thomas Crowther-2, Patrick Musico, Julian Simeoni, Mathieu Dokis-Dupuis, Mathieu Gareau, Brett Jacklin)
Copper Cliff Redmen 0

Valley East Rebels 2 (Ryan Fournier, Christian Gaudreau)
Walden Devils 1 (Mathew Kvaltin)

Sudbury Bulldogs 7 (Julian Simeoni-2, Brett Jacklin-2, Mathieu Dokis-Dupuis, Josh Piche, Mathieu Gareau)
Nickel Centre Flyers 0

Rayside-Balfour Tigers 0
Valley East Rebels 7 (Parker Savard-3, Riley Dube, Mark McInroy, Ryan Fournier, Christian Gaudreau)

Walden Devils 4 (Mathew Kvaltin-2, Murray Potts, Callum Dolphin)
Copper Cliff Redmen 2 (Julien Tubin, Dylan Will)

Copper Cliff Redmen 7 (Julien Tubin-2, Joseph Cassio-2, Franklin Lampkin, Dylan Will, Tony Piro)
Rayside-Balfour Tigers 2 (Bailey Therrien, Mathieu Desormeaux)

Valley East Rebels 1 (Parker Savard)
Sudbury Bulldogs 4 (Mathieu Dokis-Dupuis-2, Julian Simeoni, Joel Mongeon)

Nickel Centre Flyers 4 (Shane Poitras-2, Logan Davidson, Nick Crawford)
Walden Devils 2 (Brandon Atkins, Callum Dolphin)

Dan Susteric "A" Championship
Sudbury Bulldogs 4 (Braeden Dumais-2, Carter Wachnuk, Mathieu Dokis-Dupuis)
Valley East Rebels 0

Al Arbour "B" Championship
Nickel Centre Flyers 1 (Logan Davidson)
Walden Devils 5 (Callum Dolphin-2, Brandon Atkins, Matthew Kvaltin, Samuel Sirkka)


Minor Atom Division

Valley East Rebels 6 (Bradley Chenier-4, Damien Giroux, Kory Landry)
Copper Cliff Redmen 3 (Kevin McLelland, Gregory Trudeau-Paquet, Tyler Lewis)

Sudbury Bulldogs 1 (Tyrus Cuculick)
Walden Devils 1 (Devun St Pierre)

Valley East Rebels 7 (Kory Landry-2, Mason Blinn, Jason Gough, Cameron Mostoway, Bradley Chenier, Damien Giroux)
Walden Devils 0

Sudbury Bulldogs 2 (Brett Melanson, Felix Cote)
Valley East Rebels 2 (Kory Landry, Bradley Chenier)

Sudbury Lady Wolves 5 (Meagan McGaughey-2, Brooke Kennedy, Melisa Kingsley, Ashley McKerral)
Manitoulin Panthers 5 (Jackson Linklater-2, Trenton Bond, Parker Dickinson, Patrick Snowdon)

Manitoulin Panthers 6 (Trenton Bond-3, Alex Smith-2, Jackson Linklater)
Nickel Centre Flyers 1 (Ethan Lavallee)

Nickel Centre Flyers 4 (Blake Bottrell-2, Carter Rollins, Nicholas Chokan)
Sudbury Lady Wolves 4 (Meagan McGaughey-2, Taylor McGaughey, Ashley McKerral)

Walden Devils 6 (Ben Lagadin-2, Devun St Pierre-2, Jacob Brown, Zachary Peterson)
Copper Cliff Redmen 3 (Gregory Trudeau-Paquet-2, Emile Cyr)

Copper Cliff Redmen 3 (Gregory Trudeau-Paquet-3)
Sudbury Bulldogs 5 (Anthony Dombek-2, Tyrus Cuculick-2, Brett Melanson)

Al Secord "A" Championship
Valley East 6 (Bradley Chenier-2, Alexandre Baronette, Ryan Boudreau, Cameron Mostoway, Damien Giroux)
Sudbury Bulldogs 0

George Armstrong "B" Championship
Sudbury Lady Wolves 3 (Haley Moskal, Ashley McKerral, Alyssa Charsley)
Manitoulin Panthers 2 (Trenton Bond, Jackson Linklater)

Major Atom Division

Valley East Rebels 5 (Daniel Walker-2, Dustin Theriault, Broedy Bertrand, David Ranger)
Rayside-Balfour Tigers 2 (Korbin Cecchini-McAuley, Tyler Brisson)

Walden Devils 6 (Bray Crowder-2, Ian Thom, Colin Potts, Nic Chevrette, Lachlin Soini)
SMHA Bulldogs 1 (Mathieu Quenville)

Copper Cliff Redmen 5 (Ward Kyle-2, Nicholas Greasley, Patrick Lapointe-2)
Nickel Centre Flyers 2 (Darren DePaolis, Ethan Lamarche)

Rayside-Balfour Tigers 4 (Tyler Brisson-2, Korbin Cecchini-McAuley, Zack Lessard)
SMHA Bulldogs 0

Valley East Rebels 11 (Daniel Walker-2, Joel Grandbois-2, Broedy Bertrand, Mackenzie MacMillan, Dustin Theriault, Nick Desantis, Brett Boileau, David Ranger, Nick Godin)
Nickel Centre Flyers 1 (Matthew Tuttle)

Walden Devils 9 (Bray Crowder-4, Jake Stos-2, Brandon Digby, Lachlin Soini, Josh Duckett)
Copper Cliff Redmen 4 (Ward Kyle-2, Kyle Mallette, Nicholas Greasley)

Nickel Centre Flyers 0
SMHA Bulldogs 7 (Kyle Liinamaa-2, Joel Piette, Kaeden cronin, Tyler Savage, Bradley Sheppard, Brady Courville)

Rayside Balfour Tigers 1 (Ryan O'Bonsawin)
Copper Cliff Redmen 6 (Evan Davies-2, Kyle Mallette-2, Ward Kyle-2)

Walden Devils 3 (Lachlin Soini, Colin Potts, Bray Crowder)
Valley East Rebels 5 (Mackenzie MacMillan-2, Kirk Trayner, Joel Grandbois, Daniel Walker)

Gerry McCrory "B" Championship
Copper Cliff Redmen 4 (Evan Davies-2, Nicholas Greasley, Patrick Lapointe)
Rayside-Balfour Tigers 3 (Austin Burke-2, Korbin Cecchini-McAuley)

Toe Blake "A" Championship
Valley East Rebels 5 (Broedy Bertrand-2, Brad Boivin, Dustin Theriault, David Ranger)
Walden Devils 0

Minor Peewee Division

Sudbury Bulldogs 2 (Duncan Stewart, Cameron Quenville)
Walden Devils 3 (Dexter Lamarche, Jason Bednarski, Noah Lagadin)

Copper Cliff Redmen 3 (Matthew Lewis, Bradley Lafortune, Tyler Soulliere)
Valley East Rebels 4 (Brandan Dumouchel-2, Josh Conners, Carter Hanson)

Manitoulin Panthers 3 (Justice Corbiere-2, Jacob Pitawanakwat)
Sudbury Bulldogs 4 (Tyler Michaud, Pierce Wallingford, Duncan Stewart, Bradley Sutton)

Copper Cliff Redmen 4 (Ty Beauchamp, Tanner Schroeder, Matthew Lewis, Christian Lariviere)
Walden Devils 1 (Steven Manarin)

Walden Devils 3 (Dexter Lamarche, Matthew Neault, Noah Lagadin)
Valley East Rebels 1 (Nicolas Mantha)

Manitoulin Panthers 4 (Kai Saunders, Jacob Moreau, Brandon Pheasant, Jeremy Couchie)
Copper Cliff Redmen 5 (Tanner Schroeder-3, Connor Vaillancourt-2)

Valley East Rebels 5 (Cole Braney-2, Carter Hanson, Jeremie Noel, Trevor Boimstruck)
Manitoulin Panthers 2 (Brandon Pheasant, Neil Withers)

Sudbury Bulldogs 4 (Cameron Quenville-2, Brad Mackenzie, Pierce Wallingford)
Copper Cliff Redmen 1 (Troy Bertrand)

Walden Devils 10 (Matthew Neault-3, Noah Lagadin-2, Curtis Schryer-2, Jason Bednarski, Dexter Lamarche, Talon McGregor)
Manitoulin Panthers 3 (Justice Corbiere, Lucas Lachance, Matthew Craig)

Valley East Rebels 2 (Carter Hanson, Ryan Brideau)
Sudbury Bulldogs 2 (Jonathon Irvine, Bradley Sutton)

Jim Pappin "B" Championship
Valley East Rebels 0
Copper Cliff Redmen 4 (Connor Vaillancourt-2, Tyler Soulliere, Matthew Lewis)

Eddie Shack "A" Championship
Walden Devils 3 (Jason Bednarski-2, Curtis Schryer)
Sudbury Bulldogs 5 (Bradley Sutton, Duncan Stewart, Pierce Wallingford, Brad Mackenzie, Cameron Quenville)

Major Peewee Division

Copper Cliff Redmen 11 (Nathan Shane-4, Andrew Dodge-3, Jeremy Maillet, Curtis Greasley, Riley Campbell-2)
Nickel Centre Flyers 1 (Michael Huntington)

Sudbury Wolves 4 (Owen Fransen-2, Nicholas Marion, Scott Villeneuve)
Sudbury Auto Depot Bulldogs 2 (Josh Cross, Wesley Blacklock)

Valley East Rebels 4 (Jordan Connors, Kevin Theriault, Alex Forget, Patrick Labelle)
Rayside-Balfour Tigers 0

Sudbury Auto Depot Bulldogs 1 (Braiden Butler)
Nickel Centre Flyers 2 (Mathew Brode, Nevada Waindubence)

Copper Cliff Redmen 6 (Curtis Greasley-2, Andrew Dodge-2, Rudy Giusti, Nathan Shane)
Valley East Rebels 1 (Alex Forget)

Rayside-Balfour Tigers 0
Sudbury Wolves 8 (Anthony Pelletier-3, Brendyn Sauve, Eric Pauquette, Brody Brunet, Nicholas Marion, Owen Fransen)

Valley East Rebels 4 (Alex Forget, Tyson Troscinski, Patrick Labelle, Jordan Connors)
Sudbury Auto Depot Bulldogs 1 (Braiden Butler)

Sudbury Wolves 5 (Anthony Pelletier-2, Owen Fransen, Eric Paquette, Brody Brunet)
Copper Cliff Redmen 3 (Curtis Greasley, Rudy Giusti, Jeremy Maillet)

Nickel Centre Flyers 4 (Michael Huntington-2, Mathew Brode, Adam Lacasse)
Rayside-Balfour Tigers 4 (Adam Jeffery-2, Sheldon Lalonde, Daniel Blais)

Frank St Marseille "B" Championship
Nickel Centre Flyers 3
Valley East Rebels 6

Art Beaupre "A" Championship
Sudbury Minor Peewee "AAA" Wolves 1
Copper Cliff Redmen 2