Grind Line Propels Jr. Trappers to Overtime Win in Game 1(Video)

The North Bay Jr. Trappers started their 2010 playoff campaign with a bang, defeating the Sudbury Jr. Wolves 5-4 in overtime. The win gives the Trappers a 1-0 lead in the best of seven East Division semi-finals.

If game one is any indication of how this series will go it will definitely be a good one, as this match-up had a little bit of everything. A grinder scoring two goals on his birthday, including the overtime winner and some late game heroics by the Trapper’s only all-star.

Joel Gagnon opened the scoring just 29 seconds into the game for Sudbury as he slipped one by North Bay goaltender Ryan Fitzsimmons. The Jr. Wolves doubled their lead with just over a minute left in the period when Zach McGillis beat Fitzsimmons high on the glove side.

The start was not at all what the Trappers wanted as the team seemed tentative in the first despite outshooting their opponents 15-9 in the period.

“I thought we we’re sort of nervous, everybody was a little tight,” said forward Morgan Rudiger. “We we’re all really jacked to start the playoffs, after the first period I thought we settled down,” added Rudiger.

The home squad got a bit of a tension breaker before hitting the change rooms as Jese Cere re-directed a Matt Weisensel point shot into the top corner. The goal came just 9 seconds after McGillis’ marker and with less than a minute to go in the period.

Cere and his line-mates came out flying in the second period tying up the contest just 24 seconds into the frame. Dan Frawley bulged the twine behind Wolves goalie Chris Kaye as Cere and line-mate Morgan Rudiger both had assists on the goal. Their line was buzzing all evening as the grinders showed what it takes to win in playoff hockey.

“We all know what works in the playoffs,” said Tapper’s Coach Ian Swalucynski. “You’ve got to be hard and you’ve got to go to the dirty areas,” added the coach who was extremely pleased with his self described “grind line”.

The teams went to the second intermission tied as the game tightened up and the heavy hitting started.

The visitors took the lead again early in the third as Kyle Shaw converted on a two on one with Justin Lariviere. However it was Frawley again who tied the game up with less than six minutes to go.

The Jr. Wolves responded 3 minutes later on the power-play as 6’5” Tyler Arps planted himself in front of Fitzsimmons, picked up a loose puck and fed Evan Daciuk for the gimme goal.

With under a minute to go Swalucynski called a timeout to setup a chance to tie the game and the move paid off. The Trapper’s newly anointed all-star defenseman Sacha Guimond blasted a shot past Kaye to send the crowd into a frenzy and the game into overtime.

“These types of games bring a team closer together,” said Swalucynski. The coach said he tried to keep the team calm in the timeout and told them to stick to the plan.

In overtime it was not surprise that the checking line once again stepped up. 6 minutes into the frame Cere buried his second goal of the game, a nice birthday present and an even better present for his team.

“He’s unreal; he works hard and he’s a huge team player … if you put it on his stick and he’s got a half open net, he’s going to bury it,” boasted Rudiger of Cere’s play.

The line of Cere, Frawley and Rudiger combined for 8 points on the night garnering Cere and Frawley stars one and two respectively for the game. Daciuk was named star number 3 for his one goal and two assist night.

Fitzsimmons made 30 saves to secure the win for the Trappers while Kaye made 38 saves taking the loss for the Wolves.

Swalucynski said after the game that although the game didn’t go exactly as planned he’s happy with the win.

“At the end of the day you have 14 rookies and guys that have never been in the playoffs before, I’ll take any two points I can get at this time of the year,” said the bench boss.

Sudbury bench boss Dave Clancy said he was also pleased with his team’s effort and looks forward to a long hard series.

“They showed that they could play with North Bay, who are an older more experienced team, so I actually happy with the play of our guys,” said Clancy.

The teams go back to Sudbury for game two on Wednesday night before returning to Memorial Gardens for game three on Thursday night. Attendance was un-expectedly low for the first playoff game of the season at 884.