The Northern Chill 17U Ice Box boys surprised everybody but themselves on the opening day of Provincials last week in Toronto. And for as much as a 3-0 start meant that the team that entered the all-Ontario playdowns ranked #30 would be catapulted to a whole new echelon entirely, their ability to remain competitive and improve their standing by no less than a dozen slots made for a great experience for the ten-man crew.

Undefeated Thursday did not come easily as the Chill withstood a three-set challenge in each and every outing to make their mark. Victories over REACH Elevate from Toronto (18-25, 25-21, 16-14), the Jr Gryphons Storm from Guelph (17-25, 25-22, 15-13) and the Hurricanes Category 6 from Halton (25-23, 16-25, 15-9) meant that the Sudbury lads re-pooled on Friday with a trio of teams all ranked in the top twenty in the province.

Again, no two set sweeps in the offing as the 17U Ice Box come up a little short opposite both the Maverick Marshalls from Ottawa (16-25, 25-20, 12-15) and Pakmen Gold from Mississauga (16-25, 25-18, 4-15) before closing out on a happier note, outlasting the Titans Behemoth from Scarborough (21-25, 25-18, 15-10).

Slotted into the second tier of eight teams in their bracket and facing the Venom Cobras (#7) from Richmond Hill, the Chill gave the favourites everything they could handle before succumbing 21-25, 25-27 in their quarter-final match.

The 2025-2026 Northern Chill 17U Ice Box lineup assembled a lineup of Cameron Young, Duncan Mackinnon, Brett Rienguette, Mykael Gagné, Nick Mills (suffered a fractured ankle on Friday), Clarke McNeil, Cédric Larouche, Danik Leblanc, Emilio Munoz Tarrega , Maksim Rybiak, head coach Mike Rybiak, assistant coaches Mike LeBlanc and Owen Foers and team manager Melanie LeBlanc.