It's been an amazing season for the North Bay & District U18 AAA Trappers.
Not only did they finish on top of the standings with an impressive 28-3-0-1 record for first in the nine-team Great North U18 League, but forward Ben Brunton had a record setting season scoring 52 goals along with 39 assists for 91 points tying the single season mark set by Joel Senecal in 2006-07.
However, with his 139 points in two seasons with the U18 Trappers, Brunton became the all-time leader in points edging Joel's cousin Marc Senecal, who held the mark of 137 set back in 2006.
"It was a big accomplishment for me personally, but it wouldn't have been possible without my teammates," said Brunton as linemate Martin Brassard finished third in league scoring with 63, while longtime linemate and Battalion prospect Cam Lockhart was 13th in league scoring with 43 points.
"Right now I'm only focused on winning the championship with my team."
Josh Dale, the former Powassan Voodoos assistant coach, who took over as head coach this season with the U18 Trappers, says Brunton has been working extremely hard all season, and the results show it.
"His focus has been on breaking records or competing against any other player as an individual," said Dale about his undrafted star forward.
"He works hard for not only himself but his teammates, family and friends. The hard work, along with doing the right things, gets the results he’s been having."
Dale says breaking the record in the final game of the season in New Liskeard last Friday was a special moment for the Trappers organization.
"When I gave Ben the puck after the game he broke the record for most points ever by a North Bay Trapper you could tell in his face he was excited and proud, as were his teammates and us coaches. But he simply said 'Thank you, I’m excited about this accomplishment and it’s thanks to my teammates and support group around me, but we aren’t done yet and our focus needs to be on that and not breaking records.'
"He’s an incredible hockey player but an even more impressive person if you ask me. 52 goals in 32 games and the crazy thing is when he plays, he always looks to pass - that's why he has the 39 assists.
"He just has an extreme talent and vision on the ice and is fun to watch."
Brunton and his teammates are practicing in preparation for the Great North U18 AAA Tournament of Champions, which start next week in Timmins.