Patsch propels Jr. A Trappers past Jr. Wolves

Trapper forward Dan Zawacki fights for the puck in front of Jr. Wolves goaltender Nick McMullen. Photo by Matt Gordon.

Ryan Patsch scored the game tying goal and scored the game winner in the shootout as the North Bay Jr. A Trappers defeated the Sudbury Jr. Wolves 4-3 at Memorial Gardens on Sunday night. The win puts the Trappers 3 points ahead of the Wolves for second place in the NOJHL’s Eastern Division.

North Bay head coach Ian Swalucynski praised the players who came up big down the stretch for the win.

“Dan Zawacki was probably the best forward out there tonight on either side, he was unbelievable and I thought (Jonathon) Aubertin played well too” boasted Swalucynski. Zawacki set up Patsch’s winner and was flying around the ice the entire evening.

However, Swalucynski also noted that he was forced to sit some players late as they made some mistakes that he couldn’t tolerate.

“A guy who took a stupid penalty didn’t play anymore, 3 turnovers by one guy so he didn’t play for the last 8 minutes,” said Swalucynski. “My point was proven by us coming out and finishing, (we Stuck) with the guys who play by the rules and follow the program,” noted the bench boss.

In the first period, the Trappers dictated most of the play outshooting the Wolves 16-10, but were unable to beat goaltender Nick McMullen. Michael Mitchell did his part as well stopping all ten Sudbury shots to keep the first period scoreless.

The middle stanza got started off with a bang as the Jr. Trappers scored on their first two shots at 0:19 and 0:49. Brodie Barron got the first goal, his 16th of the season, tucking it under McMullen from behind the net. Marcel Konopelky then wired one past McMullen from the top of the circle to make the score 2-0 for the home squad.

However, the Jr. Wolves got right back into the game less than 3 minutes later as Chris Pontes put a soft one behind Mitchell. The Sudbury goal also came on their first shot of the period. Dustin Ryan tied the game for the Wolves with less than two minutes left in the period on a two man advantage.

Sudbury forward Daniel Aubut put the visitors up midway through the final frame, before Patsch tied the game up with less than 3 minutes to go. The goal came just after a Trappers power play had expired.

McMullen came up big in overtime stopping 4 shots including a big glove save on Aubertin. McMullen stopped 39 shots on the night and was named the games first star; Mitchell was the third star in a 26 stop effort; Patsch took home second star honours.

In the shootout, Mitchell stopped both shots he faced and Patsch scored on deke to his backhand to seal the victory for the Trappers.

Stan Smrke had two assists to lead the Trappers, Nick Laporte and Zawacki had the only other two helpers for the home squad. Adam DiBrina had two assists for the Wolves while Tyler Arps, Luc Comtois and Brian Villeneuve all had single helpers.

Now almost half the way through the season, Swalucynski was asked what his team will need to work on to be ready for the home stretch and playoffs.

“We’ve got to learn to battle the right way, make sure we win the games we are supposed to and we have to play with a little bit of an edge,” said the coach.

These two teams will battle again this week when North Bay travels to McCelland arena on Wednesday night. The Jr. Trappers will then try to give the Eskimos their first regulation loss of the season on Saturday in Iroquois Falls.