North Stars shine against Trappers (updated)

Under Pressure: North Bay's Pascal Seguin battles Sault Ste. Marie's David Quesnele for the puck during Saturday's 8-2 North Stars victory at the West Ferris Arena. Photo by Lucas Punkari.

Story by Lucas Punkari

After a tight opening 30 minutes, the North Bay Trappers
were unable to stop the Sault Ste. Marie North Stars on Saturday night, dropping an 8-2 decision at the West Ferris Arena.

“The effort was there for the first 30 minutes but the guys got away from the game plan and that’s what killed us,” Trappers head coach Beau Moyer said following the defeat.

“I thought the first period was pretty even,” North Stars bench boss Mike Hall said after the game.

“In the second, our kids were getting away from their game, and when we got back to that we were able to pull away. We’re the type of team that needs a few chances to score. We’re not gifted but if you give us a few chances, we can usually bury half of them.”

Following a goal by short-handed goal by Liam Berti in the first and a Roch Pellerin power play marker in the second, the Trappers held a 2-1 lead. However the North Stars would score two quick goals in a 40 second span to take a 3-2 lead, one that they would never relinquish.

“Everybody was working hard and we we’re able to get all three lines going until a couple of penalties hurt us,” Moyer said in regards to the first two periods of play.

“But after they made it 4-2, the guys started to become unglued on the bench, and we’ve got to keep that mentality we had early on for 60 minutes.”

North Stars defenceman Bronson Kovacs was the top player for the North Stars as he picked up a hat trick. Dylan Connolly, Kurtis Travaglini, Luke O’Brien, Michael Schug and Tyler Evoy each added singles in the victory.

“Bronson’s a great kid, not only on the ice but off it,” Hall said regarding his defenceman, who has 30 points for the season.

“He fires the puck extremely hard and on the second goal that he scored, the shot was blocked but it came right back to him and he fired it away. He’s been scoring big goals for us all year long and he’s been playing well lately.”

“I’d say he’s the best defenceman in the league,” Moyer said about Kovacs.

“He’s got a big league shot and he’s somebody we try to key before every game. We try to dump it into his corner and hit him as much as possible, but offensively he’s very gifted and he showed that tonight.”

The Trappers will look to put this game behind them on Sunday afternoon, when the Timmins Majors come to town for a 1:00 face off in the final home game of the regular season. Moyer says despite a crushing defeat on Saturday. His team should be ready come Sunday afternoon.