Jr. Trappers end T-Birds win streak with shutout

North Bay Trappers goalie Dustin Hummel (35) keeps an eye on the puck during second period action at Memorial Gardens Sunday afternoon. Hummel, stop all 39 shots again him. Photo by Denis Dubois.
The North Bay Jr. “A”Trappers (14-2-2-3) climbed closer up the standings with a decisive 2-0 victory over the Soo Thunderbirds (16-2-1-2) Sunday afternoon at Memorial Gardens.

Tait Seguin and Corbin Bean scored for the Trappers and the win broke the T-Birds’ nine-game winning streak. The T-Birds came into tonight on the end of a weekend trip that included stops in Kirkland Lake and Abitibi.

“Every little thing that’s available for us to utilize or to look at or focus on, we have to take advantage of those situations and we’re in that same situation when we go into their rink on Sundays, when we’re on a three-day swing,” said Jr. Trappers head coach Tom McCarthy, “So both teams have it the same way, sometimes a bounce of a puck can change the game and fortunately, tonight the momentum stayed quite strong. I thought the ice was tilted pretty good.”

The defense played a big part in the win, poke-checking and shot blocking in front of the goal. Though happy with the win, McCarthy notes there could have been more to attain.

“We supported the puck extremely well tonight,” said McCarthy, “We kept getting below the puck instead of being above it and every time there was a loose puck, there was somebody there to clear the net or clear the zone or clear the front of the net. I just thought our support and our communication is something we’re really strongly working on and I think that also orchestrates good defense.”

Dustin Hummel made 38 saves to record his first career NOJHL shutout. Joel Horodziejczyk made 39 saves in the loss for the Soo.

“That’s a huge confidence booster,” said Hummel of the win, “We have some D out right now, guys like Carter Horwitz, that’s going to hurt us but our D really stepped it up today, it really helped us out, big win overall.”

Seguin opened the scoring as he got hold of a breakaway opportunity at 1:44 of the second period.

At 11:49, Brandon Janke found Bean in the slot and Bean made no mistake to give the Traps the two goal advantage.

The T-Birds tried to get back in it but Hummel shut them down the whole way, including 15 saves in the final frame to seal the victory.

The Trappers remain at home and will take on the Sudbury Nickel Barons on Friday, November 23. Game is set for 7:00 p.m. at Memorial Gardens.

Game Notes
-The attendance was 537.
-The Trappers have collected points in 10 of their last 11 games (8-1-1-2 record)