NOJHL Playoffs - Jr. Trappers expect the unexpected

Trappers forward Dan Frawley nets a goal vs. the Wolves back in October. Frawley finished with 10 points against the Jr. Wolves this season. Photo by Chris Dawson.

Ian Swalucynski can only control how he prepares his team for the playoffs.

As for their first round opponents, the Trappers coach doesn’t know what to expect. Yes, he’s talking about the mysterious Sudbury Jr. Wolves. Will this club checkered with a handful of the most talented players in the league play up to its potential, or will it fold up like a cheap tent like a recent 4-3 home loss to the Manitoulin Islanders proved 2 weeks ago.

“I mean we played them twice in their barn and we didn’t have a sniff of winning the game so we have to make sure we are ready and make sure we are doing all the things we’ve done by beating them 7 times - working hard and staying out of the box,” said Swalucynski about the impressive 7 wins 2 losses and 1 shootout loss record against the Wolves in 2009-2010.

The Wolves "X Factor" and most talented player in the form of Chris Kangas, will be absent for the opening two games of the series as he serves a suspension which was carried over from their last regular season win over the Soo Thunderbirds. Kangas is renowned for either being a passenger who shows minimal effort one night to a dominant figure who would look comfortable on the top line of a major junior club the next night.

The 20-year-old led the Wolves in scoring versus the Trappers netting 5 goals and 8 assists in the 10-game regular season series.

“They won’t have Kangas for the first two games, that could be better for them, I don’t know it could be worse – who knows,” said Swalucynski.

“I don’t know what to expect so I have to get our team ready to what we think is going to happen.”

That message of Wolves caution has been clearly sent across the Trappers dressing room.

“Sudbury has all the ability to put us out first round so we aren’t taking it lightly we are going to come out with a lot of bang,” said forward Adam Marceau as he prepares for his first NOJHL playoff experience.

“I don’t have a lot of experience we didn’t go very far with the midget (Trappers) team so I’m just going to try to do my best to stay focused.”

The Trappers will continue to rely on shutdown defenceman Matt Weisensel as he will have added minutes early in the season as 20-year-old blue liner Nick Laporte serves the final 2 games of his suspension.

“Historically we have always known that Sudbury has been a good playoff team, but so are we and I think we are getting ready in practice,” said the Calgary native.

“The mindset is looking good, the team chemistry is looking good. I thought through the last couple games of the season we were clicking everything was going well in the O zone and in the D zone we are starting to come back together. We aren’t allowing teams back into games in the late third. So Sudbury with their leading scorer Kangas, he’s out, we just have to take advantage of that opportunity especially in those first couple games. If we jump on them quick we know we can squander their spirits and take care of it from there.”

Despite the mystery of the Sudbury Jr. Wolves, the Trappers do carry some momentum as they have outscored their Sudbury opponents 19-5 in their previous 3 meetings including the 7-2 spanking last Tuesday night.

Mitchell still Recovering

Newcomer Ryan Fitzsimmons will get the start in game one as All-Star netminder Michael Mitchell continues to rehab his injured knee. The Thunder Bay product has been practicing but Swalucynski doesn’t want to risk putting him between the pipes too soon.

“We aren’t going to push him,” admitted Swalucynski.

“He’s got to get comfortable on the ice moving side to side.”

Series schedule

Instead of the traditional 2-2-1-1-1 series format, the Wolves and Trappers will go back and forth throughout the opening series. Game one is Sunday night at Memorial Gardens and then the series will shift to Wednesday night back in Copper Cliff for game 2 before returning back to Memorial Gardens for game 3 on Thursday night.