It was a busy weekend of Great North U18 AAA hockey for the two North Bay Trappers teams.
The U18 Trappers look like strong contenders early on led by new coach Josh Dale, while the U16 Trappers continue to go through some growing pains adapting to the older competition.
U18 Wolves dump U16 Trappers
Saturday night the Sudbury U18 Wolves were in North Bay to take on the U16 Trappers in a Saturday evening bout at Memorial Gardens, downing U16 squad 6-3.
The two teams had a contrasting tale of records entering the match, as the Wolves stood undefeated at 2-0 while the U16 Trappers have had a slow 0-3 start. The 0-3 record not helped by facing only U18 teams, including the U18 Wolves in the season opener, so far.
The Trappers were given an early opportunity to pull ahead as Sudbury’s Rowan Smith took an early crosschecking penalty but were unable to capitalize with a lone shot on goal during the man advantage.
Despite failing to convert on the power play the U16 Trappers continued to pour on the offensive pressure, and fight hard along the boards despite being undersized. Many an opportunity was created early in the period by effectively winning corner battles and setting up the cycle quickly, but just as fast momentum shifted the other way with back-to-back goals by the Wolves.
First was a nice passing play off the rush by Khade Metatawabin and Noah LaFrance with a nice tap in finisher by Denver Mulligan, for the 1-0 goal.
Rapidly following up the initial marker only 1 minute 29 seconds later, Cameron Vekhala pots his fourth goal of the season after throwing the puck in front of the net and deflecting off a Trapper skate to go up 2-0.
In the waning minutes of the first period fortune continued to favour the Sudburians, as Phillipe Lafontaine was called for a double minor for head contact, putting the Wolves on a 4-minute power play that continued into the second period. As play resumed though the Trappers clogged up the slot, blocked shots and played stalwart defensive hockey, effectively declawing the U18 Wolves power play.
Opportunity knocked once again for the North Bay squad as they were put back on the powerplay after a boarding call against Denver Mulligan but was offset by a lax line change, charging the Trappers with too many men, yet neither team would score.
But all was not lost for the special teams of the Trappers as they would twice more be put on the man advantage in short succession and convert each time. The first Trappers tally being put up 30 seconds into the power play by Cedar Montreuil off a nice pass from Ty Dubreuil, and the second goal would be scored by Graiden Dale, his first of the season, with the help this time by Cedar Montreuil to knot the battle at 2.
However, the celebrations would be short-lived as Brett Moxam would bury a rebound blocker side off of a initial glove save by netminder Bruce Laronde to make it 3-2.
Unfortunately for the boys in red, the boulder of bad luck would continue to roll on late in the period as a pair of penalties would put the U18 Wolves on a 5 on 3 that they would make short work of scoring on, with Drake Taylor tapping in a loose puck along the post to once again put the Wolves in the drivers seat 4-2 to close out 40 minutes of play.
The final frame saw the U18 Wolves continue their offensive onslaught, starting with a play in the corner by Brett Moxam. Skating swiftly left to right through the slot and cleanly beating the goalie Laronde low blocker for his second unassisted goal of the game. 5-2 Wolves.
A glimmer of possibility appeared just over six and a half minutes into the third period with the Wolves taking back-to-back penalties to gift the North Bay team a 5-3 opportunity to close the now 3-goal gap.
But the Wolves were unrelenting in their defensive play, getting in front of pucks, keeping the play to the outside, and getting clear after clear, despite the many shots thrown towards the white and blue net.
At 15:33 into the third period, Drake Taylor would get tripped on a breakaway and awarded a penalty shot. Taylor drove straight down the slot and ripped a shot low glove but Laronde would not be beaten and snagged the puck with ease.
With just 3:53 remaining and what would be the final powerplay of the game the Trappers get one back with pure grit and determination. Smacking away at a loose puck along netminder McNamara’s pads the puck would trickle over the goal line, giving Graiden Dale his second goal of the game and narrowing the scoreline 5-3.
But it would be for naught.
With just over a minute remaining, and the net now empty in favour of the extra attacker, Cameron Vekhala of the Wolves would make it up to the red line and send the empty netter home for a final scoreline 6-3.
With this win the U18 Wolves improve their record to 3-0, while the U16 trappers fall to 0-4 on the season.
The U16 Trappers will play their next game at home against the U16 Soo Jr. Greyhounds on Saturday October 19th at Memorial Gardens at 7 p.m. They travel to London on the Thanksgiving weekend to participate in the Wendy Dufton Memorial Tournament in London, Ontario.
Story by Harrison Clements
U18 Trappers blank Wolves
On Friday, the North Bay U18 AAA Trappers goaltender Carson Ruddy returned from injury to shut out the Sudbury U16 AAA Wolves 4-0 at the Gerry MCrory Countryside Arena in Sudbury.
After a scoreless first period, the Trappers scored three times in the middle frame courtesy the league's top goal scorer Ben Brunton, along with tallies from Scott Szcygiel and Liam Starcevic.
Ezekiel Proctor rounded out the scoring with a goal midway through the third to round out the scoring as the U18 Trappers improved to 4-0 on the season.
Trappers vs Trappers
Meantime on Thursday night, the two Trappers AAA squads locked horns for the second time this season at Memorial Gardens. Ben Brunton paced the U18 Trappers netting the first four goals of the contest in a convincing 10-3 win for the U18 Trappers over the U16s.
Noah Kozmick had a pair for the U18 Trappers. Singles went to Mathias Moar, Cameron Lockhart, Martin Brassard, and Tyler Brunet.
Owen Smith, Phillipe Lafontaine and Janssen Fransen replied for the U16 Trappers in the loss.
