Jr. A Trappers get back on track against Beavers

Beavers forward Cody Edwards jumps over a Trappers defenceman after scoring on Trappers goalie Michael Mitchell in the third period. Photo by Chris Dawson.

Story by Paul Soucy

North Bay played a back and forth game with Blind River early in the game before taking off in the second. Dan Zawacki was the game’s first star in the Trappers’ 7-4 win over the Beavers with two goals and one helper.

After losing on Friday night to the Temiscaming Royals, Trappers coach Ian Swalucynski believed his team had a much better effort against Blind River.

“I thought we played about 56 minutes,” Swalucynski said. “We let some stuff happen at the end where we weren’t focused as we should be, but it’s the best effort we’ve had in a while.”

Swalucynski was glad to see some of the local players step up their game. Former Scollard Hall Bears forward Matthew Pepin is one of the Trappers gaining praise from his coach.

“He’s best when he’s under your skin and he seems to do that to everybody we play,” Swalucynski said about Pepin who scored the Trappers third goal on the night.

“That’s what I told him to do…let them know who number 8 is.”

Forward Dan Zawacki was playing with a little of bit of added pressure, it was his first game back after battling an illness and he was playing in front of his father who made the trip from Colorado.

“He always wants me to do good and wants me to succeed,” Zawacki said. “It just made me do better because seeing him here was really a confidence booster.”

Zawacki said the Trappers don’t like to lose, let alone two games in a row. That added to the desire to beat Blind River Sunday night.

“Coming off a bad loss two nights ago it was huge for us to get this win,” Zawacki said.

Stan Smrke, Adam Marceau, Darnell Koosees and Brodie Barron did the rest of the scoring for the Jr. A Trappers.

Justin Erhart, Drew MacMillan, Cody Edwards and Jeff Lobman had the goals for the Beavers.

The Trappers next two games are on Memorial Gardens ice.

Friday they host the league-leading Abitibi Eskimos, while on Sunday the Sudbury Jr. Wolves make the trek to the Gateway City.