A loss right out of the gate would force the Northern Chill 15U Norsemen boys to play one additional playoff match in their ice-breaking tournament - but this team only grew stronger as the day wore on.

The Sudbury lads earned gold two weekends ago, competing in Provincial Cup - Trillium B tournament play in Barrie in an event they entered as the second seed (of 12 teams).

That said, the Leaside Lancers may have surprised the Chill early Saturday morning, taking down the Norsemen 25-19, 10-25, 15-9 to open Pool B play.

The northern crew earned second place in their bracket thanks to a 25-11, 25-8 sweep of the PVC (Pioneers Volleyball Club) 3D Trident (Simcoe County), setting up a qualifying playoff battle with the third place team in Pool C.

The momentum appeared to kick in after set one of their encounter with the Caspian Cobras from Newmarket as the Norsemen advanced to the final eight with a 26-24, 25-7 win over the Cobras.

A 25-20, 25-19 quarter final triumph over the Bluewater Ballistix Blue Thunder (Grey Bruce / Owen Sound) only served to heighten the resolve of the Chill for what would be an outstanding semi-final as the Sudbury lads outlasted Unity Force from Woodbridge, 21-25, 25-23, 15-13.

The 15U Norsemen had effectively come full circle, taking to the court in the gold medal game opposite the Leaside Lancers - and with something to prove.

The team did exactly that, serving notice they would be a force to contend with this year with a 25-13, 27-25 scoreboard in the final telling the tale.

The 2024-2025 edition of the Northern Chill 15U Norsemen is the following compilation of talent: Xavier Aubertin, Brendan Deacon, Travis Dickie, Carson Gatien, Miguel Gauthier, Myles Mason, Jack McDonald, Duncan Mullin Santone, Jack O’Connell, Budhik Sharma and Kale St-Onge.

The head coach of the team is James McDonald, with assistant coach Alain Gauthier and team manager Sean Dickie lending a helping hand.