Picking up a pair of regular season wins the weekend before taking part in the Brampton Two Nations Tournament this past weekend, coach André Brunette and the Sudbury U18 AA Lady Wolves built some added momentum through their early games in round robin play.

The locals played to a 1-1 draw with the Thompson Okanagan Lakers (Material Land - goal; Zoe Rienguette - win in net), adding two more victories before being eliminated Saturday evening.

Emily Dambremont recorded the shutout as Sudbury rode a two-goal performance from Sierra Boyuk as well as markers from both Delaney Bridgeman and C.J. Pardy to a 4-0 win over the Eastman Selects.

Pardy would net the game-winner in game three as the Lady Wolves silenced the North Halton Twisters 2-1, with defenseman Arijana Tuttle joining Pardy on the scoresheet as Rienguette improved to 2-0.

Missing some early chances and victimized by a goal called back, the Lady Wolves dropped their crossover game to the Cornwall Royals by a final score of 4-1, which included an empty net goal.

Materia Land deflected a blast from Abby Lanteigne for the only Sudbury goal as the team continues to build chemistry while bringing together a number of young women who have never played together before.

"It's only been two of three months as a team and I feel that we've gelled a lot more," suggested captain Aoife Mahaffy, back in her hometown after suiting up with the Central York Junior Panthers of the PWHL last year.

"I think we're more aware of how our teammates play," she continued. "After switching lines a few times, we're beginning to know how to play together."

One of a solid number of pending graduates of the Lady Wolves' program, Mahaffy is pleased to don the "C" for her time ever. "I love being on the leadership part of the team," she said. "Two years ago, when I played on the team, I had such a great group of girls to look up to."

"I try and stay positive all the time and try and be a role model for the younger girls, but even the girls that are my age as well."

And though the initial honeymoon period of return to play in girls hockey may have subsided a little, Mahaffy noted that it's very easy to be reminded of all that was so easily lost in 2020-2021.

"It feels great to be back on the ice regularly," she said. "I'm grateful that it's basically as normal as it was before, even more grateful for every game. Even the practices - I just appreciate all of it so much more."

The U18 AA Lady Wolves are in North Bay for a mid-week encounter this evening, with the Ice Boltz returning the favour next Thursday evening as the Sudbury crew close out their pre-Christmas schedule with one final home game, scheduled for 8:15 p.m. at the Gerry McCrory Countryside Sports Complex.