Midget Trappers fall short against the Stars

The North Bay Trappers battled hard but a key 5-minute major after a Trappers goal to make it a one goal game in the third period was costly as the visiting Sault Ste. Marie North Stars defeated the Trappers 7-5 on Saturday night at West Ferris arena.

In a preview of what will be a first round Great North Midget League quarter-final, the last place Trappers battled hard and made the North Stars work for their victory on this night – a far cry from the Stars last visit here in November which resulted in a humbling 13-1 win.

Scott Pawson scored twice for the Trappers and added 1 assist while Cody Levasseur had 1 goal and 3 assists. Casey Restoule and Tyler Field had the other goals for the Trappers who built up an early 2-0 lead less than 5 minutes into the game.

Brandon Warmington led the Stars attack with 2 of the 5 power play goals the Stars scored past Tanner Davis.

The penalty filled affair was highlighted by a bizarre call that will be very costly to the Trappers when the playoffs begin next weekend.

Dylan Staples shoved a North Stars player who appeared to be impeding him from doing the “high-five” routine skating by the bench after the Trappers scored to close the gap to 5-4. The Trappers leading scorer was assessed a hitting from behind penalty on the call which includes a four-game suspension. That call will force Staples to miss the regular season finale Sunday versus the Stars and the first 3 games of the best-of-five quarter-final series.

Despite the loss of Staples, Trappers head coach John Couch only had praise for his team that has closed the gap on the first place Stars.

“I am so proud of this group,” Couch said after the game.

“We shut this team down in the neutral zone, we gave them a game. Who gets 5 goals against the Soo? We are buying into the system and we played our ‘A’ game and we are proving the we are a good solid hockey team.”

The two clubs meet again Sunday afternoon at West Ferris arena. Puck drop is set for 1:20 p.m.