The Sudbury Wild were created largely to allow for a local entry in the girls flag football showcase at the 2026 Ontario Summer Games in Kitchener-Waterloo this week.
But given the growth in the sport locally and the number of true champions of flag football in Greater Sudbury, the hope is that the Wild become the foundation for an option of play that would exist separate from either the high-school or university ranks.
With a semi-final battle against the Ottawa Hawks awaiting at noon today (Saturday August 1st), the Wild have enjoyed a good degree of success in their first ever official encounters in program history.
The northern squad opened play with a 25-0 win over the Guelph Soldiers, an effort highlighted by the inaugural touchdown in Wild history as quarterback Emma DeMarchi and receiver Laila Lalonde paired up on a lengthy pass and run play.
A 13-0 loss to the top-ranked Halton Fire featured an acrobatic interception from Sudbury defender Alexa Goulard with another pick, this time from Hannah Adler as the Wild closed out pool play with a 33-18 loss at the hands of the Royal Diamonds in Ottawa.
This time around, DeMarchi was on the receiving end of a touchdown reception with Grace Perron earning some reps as QB. On Saturday morning, the Wild eliminated the Durham Elite 25-13, ensuring themselves a shot at an OSG medal.
"I think I am just looking forward to playing; I didn't even know what the Ontario Summer Games were," noted Sudbury defensive captain Chanel Chénier at the team's final practice before heading south earlier this week.
"We're going to try and play as hard as we can and keep the energy up. Even if we lose, we come back with something."
A 15 year-old grade 11 student at Ecole secondaire catholique Champlain, Chenier first dabbled with flag football in gym class in grade seven and after playing on both sides of the ball early in her high-school career, realized where he true calling would lie.
"I think I have played defense for every sport that I have ever played in my life," she said. "I think I find it more rewarding to stop someone than it is to achieve what they are trying to do myself. I am stopping you from doing your job - and I find that more rewarding."
Her Sudbury counterpart, Sadie Gauvreau, is obviously wired differently. "Defense is good, but I just love offense," said the 16 year old grade 11 multi-sport talent from Lockerby Composite who also captured the junior girls pole vault title at city championships in May.
"I like getting the ball, the energy I get from that. And I like touchdowns, too - a lot."
Blessed with some natural quickness, Gauvreau has learned how to leverage her ability to dart in and out of traffic in order to help contribute offensively on a team with multiple weapons.
"Seeing the quarterback and locking eyes is important - and feeling people around me," said Gauvreau. "If I feel someone on me, then obviously I am not going to put up my hand to get that ball."
"But if I feel the quarterback sees me and there is no one around me, that's the perfect spot. The quarterbacks know."
Rounding out the Sudbury Wild roster are Malika Grenon, Leah Johnston, Chloé Paquette, Veronica Paquette and coaches Véronique St Jean and Lance Patrie.
