Travis Fernley poses for his picture with Junior A Trappers assistant coach Nathan Hewitt and Director of Scouting Randy Blake. Photo submitted.

“Excited,” was the one word Jr. Trapper’s head coach Ian Swalucynski used to describe how he felt after holding a prospects camp this past weekend.

“Our returning veterans came back in better shape then they were last year and that is going to make everyone else work even harder to make this team,” boasted the bench boss.

Swalucynski, who is also the GM of the local NOJHL club, is determined to improve on last year’s first round playoff exit. In that series, a young, smaller North Bay team was pushed around by a veteran laden Sudbury squad.

“We want to be bigger and stronger but we will still have some pretty sick skill on the ice too,” noted Swalucynski.

In the first official step to the 2010-11 season the Trappers were the hosts for almost 60 players from all across the continent this past weekend for their summer prospects camp. The three day camp consisted of on ice sessions on Friday and Saturday, followed by a red-white game on Sunday, all at Pete Palangio Arena.

Over the course of the weekend the team re-signed forward J.P. Kascsak who made the trip to North Bay for the camp. The 20 year old Virginia native is hoping to find an NCAA scholarship for the fall of 2011.

“We only had J.P. for twenty or so games last year and he was a point a game guy,” said Swalucynski. “I can’t wait to have him for a whole season,” he added.

The team also signed hulking power forward Jonathan Dionne from Chapleau, On. The gritty winger was forced to get 14 plus stitches both inside and outside of his mouth after a collision on Saturday. But Dionne returned on Sunday to score a goal in the All-Star Game.

“He’s my kind of guy, he plays hard but smart as well” noted Swlaucynski of Dionne. “He brings exactly what we need to our line-up.”

Swalucynski and he staff were extra busy on the weekend, also signing 18 year old Travis Fernley of Calgary. The Trapper coach met Fernley while coaching him at a prospects camp in Vancouver in spring 2009.

“I feel I have a great opportunity here, I like the entire coaching staff,” said Fernely. “This was a really high tempo camp, I can’t really describe how I feel right now and I just can’t wait to get started. I’m going to work my butt off over the summer and get a little stronger and come in here and try to contribute,” added the 6’3” forward.

Results from Sunday’s Red/White All-Star Game:

Team Red 5 Team White 4

Team Red goal scorers – Jonathan Hunnums (2), including the game winner, Adam McParland, Jon Dionne, Richard Therrien (penalty shot)
Team Red Goalies – Shea Cooper, Tanner Davis
Team White goal scorers – Jonathan Aubertin, J.P. Kascsak, DJ Wainman, Dylan Staples
Team White Goalies – Sean Spinney, Mitchell Knight

Next up for the Jr. Trappers is their first annual Invitational Golf Tournament on July 22nd at Highview Golf Course in Powassan.

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