But just for good measure, the point was driven home in the team's pre-season home opener Monday night at the McClelland Arena.
The visiting Elliot Lake Bobcats jumped out to a 4-1 lead before Sudbury answered with a pair of goals in the latter stages of the game, making things interesting in the final few minutes.
But an empty-net goal from Jake Hainline ultimately handed the Barons their first loss, dropping a 5-3 decision to the league newcomers.
The teams traded goals in the opening period, with Steve Gaul breaking the ice for the visitors before Sebastien Leroux countered with a power play goal for Sudbury.
Elliot Lake capitalized with the man-advantage in the second, with John Waghorne pulling the trigger before Gaul netted his second of the game, giving the Bobcats a 3-1 lead coming home.
Sudbury native Charlie Venedam increased the margin to three goals, beating former teammate, Michael Muzyka, before Cory Vaillancourt and Martin Jolicoeur narrowed the gap to just one with less than three minutes to play.
That was as close as Sudbury would get as Hainline found the back of the empty cage with 26 seconds remaining. Muzyka played the entire game for the locals, turning aside 28 of the 32 shots he faced, with Tanner Swift making 32 saves between the pipes for Elliot Lake at the other end of the rink.
The same two teams meet again later this week, facing off at the Espanola Arena on Friday night at 7 p.m. before the Nickel Barons open their 2012-13 regular season campaign next Wednesday, welcoming the Blind River Beavers to Copper Cliff for a 7:30 p.m. puck drop.
