National Hockey League officials can only hope that the just-started Stanley Cup playoffs come close to matching the excitement of the NOHA (Northern Ontario Hockey Association) Under-10 AA Tournament of Champions last weekend in Sault Ste Marie.

The U10 AA division of the Nickel District Minor Hockey League turned out to be a relatively close one this past winter, with the Sault Jr Greyhounds (39 points) and Sudbury Wolves (35) showing the way, but with the North Bay Trappers (29), Copper Cliff Reds (25) and Temiskaming Shores Puckhounds (22) all within shouting range of the frontrunners.

Come "Final Four" Sunday at the TOCs, it was absolute chaos.

While the semi-final between the Sault and North Bay was a close enough affair as the Hounds snapped a 2-2 tie with a pair of third period goals, doubling the Trappers 4-2 to advance to the final, the Sudbury - Copper Cliff clash would have made a 1980's Edmonton Oilers' fan proud.

The Reds ambushed the Wolves out of the gate, bolting to a 5-0 lead on goals from Reilly Eady, Pierce Rainville, Ashton Pawlowski, Owen Asunmaa and Thomas Albiani before the game was eight minutes old.

Sudbury got one back in the first, courtesy of Maverick Daoust, but it was a natural second period hat-trick from Cohen Cuddy of the Wolves that made things really interesting heading to the third, Copper Cliff still ahead 5-4.

Sudbury tallies from Teo Huneault and Taylor Cloutier, sandwiched around a counter from Thomas Albiani meant that the teams were heading to overtime, with Cohen Cuddy settling matters with his fourth of the game at 2:27 of period number four.

And just when fans thought that things could not get any more intense, the gold medal encounter also required a little extra time beyond regulation play to decide on an NOHA champion.

Giovanni Malafarina gave Sudbury a 1-0 lead in the first and Nolan Bernardo (Greyhounds) and Travis Clarke (Wolves) traded goals in the middle stanza, with Luca Carchidi forcing OT with a snipe midway through the third.

This time around, it would be Teo Huneault who provided the heroics, lifting Sudbury to a 3-2 banner-winning triumph, much to the disappointment of the hometown crowd in Sault Ste Marie.

Remaining Sudbury players who will enjoy the off-season as NOHA champions are Bryston Robinson, Logan Innes, Declan Yasko, Gavin Wilson-Mathe, Jack Barney, Chase Lingenfelter, Riley Paradis, Félix Marier, Teo Gagnon, Matti Pilbacka and Nash Pitre.

The Sudbury U10 AA Wolves staff features head coach Michael Pitre, assistant coaches Doug MacEwen, Kevin Gagnon and Zachary Innes and team manager Anthony Malafarina.