Toe to Toe – NOSSA Hockey

Toe to Toe – NOSSA Hockey

Two combatants from Cogeco’s Sports Firing line Frank “The Toe” Caruso (left), and Chris Dawson (right) now take their arguments to the web with a BayToday.ca's weekly sports opinion feature called, “Toe to Toe.”

The NOSSA “AAA” hockey takes place next week in North Bay. What are your thoughts about the chances for the two local teams the NDA champion St. Joseph-Scollard Hall Bears and the Chippewa Raiders?

Frank:

"First off, I’m very disappointed in the Raiders in what they brought to the final. I think Chippewa has just as good of a team but they were undisciplined in the final and maybe there weren’t ready. Now does that go back to coaching? Good possibility.

"But as far as NOSSA goes Chippewa has a chance to redeem themselves this week. It will be a tough one though. Scollard is a very good team and I saw that Lasalle team over the Christmas break and they are very good. I don’t think anybody beats them here. If anyone beats them it would be Scollard and I don’t know the Soo team because I didn’t get to see them play this year and they too will always be a very good team, so it will be tough for both of our schools to win it but I think they have an opportunity and I think Scollard has a pretty good opportunity and if Chippewa plays the way they did in the final they have no hope but I know they have the better team than what they showed in the finals.

"But Lasalle is the team to beat Chris, they are a sound disciplined hockey team and I don’t think they’ve been down too many times this year and if one of our teams can get up on them I think they have a chance to win."

Chris:

"Yes, Frank, I’m disappointed too in how the NDA final finished off. I thought that Chippewa would bounce back but a big third period by the Bears in game one seemed to have killed the Raiders before game two even started.

"Anyhow, you are so correct about Lasalle Frank. This really is a battle for second, because the Lancers will win the NOSSA “AAA” crown this year. As Ken Pagan’s Nugget article pointed out this week, the Lancers outscored their opposition 46-1 at the annual NDA hockey tournament in North Bay last December.

I believe the Bears will make it to the final as St. Basil’s who just won the NOSSA qualifier series over St. Mary’s in two straight. However, St. Basil’s didn’t even make it to the final in the Sault Ste. Marie high school loop. My Soo hockey insider tells me that the high school league itself isn’t very strong this season because all the best players in that city play either Midget AAA or Midget AA, so St. Basil’s shouldn’t contend with either North Bay teams or the favourites from Lasalle.

"If Chippewa can focus and keep their emotions in check I really think they could make it to the final in this event. They have the talent to compete and beat the Bears but can they keep their focus in the big game? It should be very interesting."

Toe to Toe can be seen every Friday on BayToday.ca

Toe to Toe – NOSSA Hockey

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