The standard has been set high for the Northern Chill 17U Glaciers boys – not that this seems to be affecting the local volleyball lads in the least.

Earning the top seeding entering McGregor Cup – Championship B play at Laurentian University two weeks ago, the Sudbury squad lived up to their billing, though there were battles along the way.

That approach will be key as the Chill 17U Glaciers are again ranked number one when they next step on the court for OVA (Ontario Volleyball Association) tournament play, March 22nd in Mono (Bugarski Cup).

The Chill needed three sets to subdue both the Titans Behemoth from Scarborough (25-21, 22-25, 15-8) and the Barrie Elites Blizzard (24-26, 25-22, 15-12), benefitting from a quarter-final matchup against their 16U club brethren.

The Glaciers swept past the Northern Chill 16U Ice Box, 25-18, 25-17, but once again needed three sets to get through to the finals with a 25-14, 18-25, 15-10 triumph over the Bluewater Ballistix Battalion from Owen Sound / Grey Bruce County.

The final, however, wasn’t nearly as close as the host team steamrolled the Toronto Thunderbolts, 25-10, 25-18, emerging as gold medal winners after garnering a taste of Premier Division play at a Challenge Cup event January in Whitby.

The 2024-2025 Northern Chill U17 Glaciers are, as follows: Jeremy Rhéaume, Jack Jones, Bryce Broglio, Justin Lafontaine, Hayden Quevillon, Olivier Tremblay, Ethan LeBlanc, Wesley Gibson, Riley Payzant, MacArthur Young, head coach James Schweyer and assistant coach Bryan Welsh.