Jr. Trappers snare Bobcats

North Bay Trappers Devon Turcottte (18) for puck control during third period NOJHL action at Memorial Gardens Thursday night. The Trappers crushed the Bobcats 7-1.

The North Bay Jr. “A” Trappers (16-3-2-3) made it five in a row on home ice with a 7-1 humbling of the Elliot Lake Bobcats (5-15-0-1) Thursday night.

Tait Seguin, Brennen Dubchak, Stephen Langford, Connor Gilmartin, Duane Wainman, Devan Turcotte and Graham Pickard all had a goal each for the Trappers. Jr. Trappers head coach Tom McCarthy says it’s all about balance on his squad.

“I think last Friday, we had seven different scorers again with seven goals so it’s something that our hockey team is working on that in the sense of we like to think we’re a family,” he said,

“We feel like we work for each other and we like to work for the same reasons so we don’t care who scores, we really don’t care. Yeah, it’s always nice to have personal accolades but it’s about winning and I think our team has sort of really come together in the sense that we’re happy for each other now and that’s very important, you have to be happy for other people’s success in order for success to continue.”

Greg Dodds made his first appearance on home ice following the suspension and it doesn’t look like he skipped a beat, making 24 saves to snag his 12th win on the year.

“It was great to see Doddsy back in the net,” said McCarthy, “It just feels a little more comfortable I think everybody does on the ice with his assurance back there but we played a pretty strong game.”

Seguin was one assist away from the ‘Gordie How hat trick’ when he got sent to the dressing room at 8:25 of the second, following a fight with the Bobats’ Tyler Cooper.

“It was unfortunate to lose a player like that during the game because of his presence and the will he plays for the hockey team.” said McCarthy.

Alternately, he was happy with Seguin’s start, getting a goal within the first minute, off a rush that he converted after crashing the net.

“We know that Tait is a very strong young man and very willing with each challenge,” said McCarthy, “But he plays that style of hockey, no matter if he is chasing down a puck or back checking or attempting to score, he plays that way but his goal was huge, he started the game early in the first minute of the game, 35 seconds in to get a goal that quick. I think it might’ve helped set the tone and he continued to play that same kind of force throughout the game.”

At 11:07, Dubchak charged the net and got the last touch on a weird play that found the back of the cage.

Langford’s goal was a thing of beauty at 16:52. After knocking down a stretch pass from Dodds that was at waist level, displaying great hand-eye coordination, Langford skated into the zone and blasted one over Graham’s shoulder to give the Traps a 3-0 lead.

In the second, the power play went to work for the Trappers as Gilmartin finished a great passing play in the slot at 7:00.

The Traps struck again on the PP at 11:28, as Wainman parked himself in the face off circle, he unloaded a one-timer after a quick set up.

The sixth goal was at 18:55, Turcotte’s first goal of the season after recovering from shoulder surgery. He had an open cage and a puck that floated into the slot.

“I think it’s a little bit of relief,” said McCarthy of Turcotte’s goal.

“Dev has worked so hard and then from the day he got hurt, I think he was three days later that he was starting to work out, ride a bike and get himself back in shape. He knew there was light at the end of the tunnel and he worked himself off the ice so well and he’s practiced with us and he’s the ultimate teammate. I’d love to have a guy like that on my team if I was a player and he can shoot from all over the ice. It was great to see him score that and break that membrane and maybe get him a little more comfortable, like he is back and part of everything.”

The Bobcats would spoil Dodds’ shutout bid as Brad Holman scored at 4:15 of the third after charging the net following an initial save made by the Trapper netminder.

Pickard would convert a clinical passing play at 17:35 to round out the scoring.

The Trappers put up a 6-2-0-1 record in the month of November and will open their December portion of the schedule on Friday, December 7, when they host the Kirkland Lake Gold Miners. Game time is 7:00 p.m. at Memorial Gardens.

Game Notes
-The Bobcats’ goal was the first one the Trappers have surrendered on home ice in 190:18, dating back two shutouts and a goal surrendered to the Abitibi Eskimos on Nov. 11.
-The attendance was 635.
-The shots were 54-25 for the Trappers.
-Langford (1G, 2A) and Trevor Hunt(0G, 3A) came up with three point nights.