Midget AAA Trappers show progress in pre-season play

The North Bay Midget AAA Trappers dropped a pair of games to start the season.

The club, now under the direction of former assistant coach Mike Reise, fell 4-1 on Saturday to the Nickel City Sons at Memorial Gardens and then dropped a 5-2 decision on Sons in Sudbury Sunday afternoon.

On Saturday, Nathan McLeod scored the lone goal for the Midget AAA Trappers who sat out all their returning veterans for the weekend contests.

“We wanted to really give a show to the new guys who wanted to play and get the kids to show us some game experience,” said Reise after Sunday’s game.

On Sunday, the game got off to a bad start when Nickel City scored on a long clearing attempt past starter Cole Leon.

However, Reise says Leon stepped up his game and had a solid performance against the Sons in the loss.

Newcomers Matthew-Peterson-Galema and Adrian Guenette had the goals on Sunday.

Guenette notched his goal on a hard working effort in the opening frame while Galema notched his shorthanded in the 3rd period.

“The 2 games were helpful to see how the team play competition they don’t know,” said Reise about the weekend home and home series.

“It helps us when we look at measuring the status and who can take the next step up. We also get to see how they handle the time and space.”

Help on the way

The Midget AAA Trappers will also get some significant fire power back in the lineup this coming season as Sudbury Wolves draft pick Tyler Peters, forward Jake Staples and Eric Champagne have all returned from their respective junior camps looking to make an impact with the local midget squad.

The Trappers are currently sitting with a 22-man roster and they hope to bring that down on Friday, August 31st when they take on the Kirkland Lake Legion 87’s. Game time is 7:20 pm at Memorial Gardens.

Photo of Tyler Peters, who is expected to be a key returning contributor to the Midget AAA Trappers offence in 2012-13.