In the midst of the heat of summer, it's always nice when northern athletes get a chance to escape and drop the temperatures, just a bit.

For 17 young hockey players from NOHA (Northern Hockey Association Centres), the recent 2024 AA All-Star Challenge presented by Prospects by Sports Illustrated was nothing if not a cool experience.

Dubbed Team Canada - Black, the collection of talent of 17 youngsters would run the table at the ten team event, reeling off six straight wins to capture gold in their division.

After surrendering the first goal of the game, the squad quickly got their bearings, stopping USA Blue 6-1 as Jackson Duclos (Timmins North Stars) and Tyler Diluzio (Soo Jr Greyhounds) paced the attack with two goals each.

Gavyn Nevers (Jr Greyhounds) and Bailey Scott (Timmins) capped things off, with the team making it a two for two Friday with a 3-1 triumph over USA Maroon.

Duclos, with a pair, and Nevers were back on the scoresheet as goaltenders Liam Restoule (Nickel City Sons - game #1) and Owen Whitehead (Jr Greyhounds - game #2) alternated start to start.

Game three on Saturday would see Canada Black bolt to a 5-1 first period lead and hold on for a 6-4 victory as Bailey Scott (2), Gavyn Nevers, Carson Mick (Jr Greyhounds), Kaleb Pitre (Nickel City Sons) and Jackson Duclos handled the offense.

The team wrapped up round robin play with a 12-0 shellacking of USA Baby Blue, though individual stats were ommitted beyond a six goal lead. Markers that counted included snipes from Duclos (2) and Scott (2) as well as Tyler Diluzio and Kohen Zubyck (Temiskaming Shores Puckhounds) - with Hayden Horbul (Timmins) scoring a pair at the tail-end of this game.

The Sunday morning semi-final would see the NOHA contingent bounce Canada Red 6-4 as Kohen Zubyck maintained a hot hand with a two goal effort. Teammates finding the back of the net included Jackson Duclos, Tyler Diluzio, Gavyn Nevers and Miko Rivard (Puckhounds).

An anticipated showdown with the undefeated Canada Green formation proved to be no contest as the Black brigade capped off their run in style, posting a 6-1 win in the championship affair.

Jackson Duclos netted his ninth and tenth goals of the weekend to show the way at the Scotiabank Pad in Toronto, with Kohen Subyck, Gavyn Nevers, Bailey Scott and Koewan Cooper also finding the back of the net.

Rounding out the Team Canada Black roster were Riely Deplonty (Jr Greyhounds), Marc Corson (Nickel City), Christopher Swartz (Timmins), Linden Bertoli (Copper Cliff Reds) and Jeremy Jarratt (Jr Greyhounds).