Trappers AAA Roundup - Success in the Soo

Minor Bantam

The North Bay & District Hopper Buick/GMC Trappers came home with three of possible four points in a home and home series over the weekend against the Nickel City Sons.

On Saturday afternoon the Trappers jumped out to an early 3-0 lead in the first period and held on for the shutout victory.

Affiliate player Ira Paibomsai, from the AA Nickel City Sons, opened the scoring on his first shift with the Trappers and linemate Jesse Lefebvre followed up with a pair of goals of his own.  Then is was goaltender Justin Robinson who supplied some great goaltending to secure the win.  

On Sunday afternoon, the Sons turned the tables on the Trappers on the opening shift as big defenceman James Bertrim fired a shot through a screen past Robinson to open the scoring for the Sons.

Yves Dorion would give the Sons a 2-0 lead beating Robinson glove side on a two on one.  

However, in the third period, the Trappers battled back as Lefebvre and Paibomsai supplied third period goals in a 2-2 tie.

The Trappers will finish off the regular season in two weeks as the Soo Greyhounds will visit the North Bay Memorial Gardens for games on Saturday, February 15 and Sunday, February 16.   

Major Peewee

After a couple of tough losses to the Sudbury Wolves, the North Bay Trappers Major Peewee AAA club has put itself in a tough position in the standings with the playoffs approaching.  

Trying to get back into second place in the division wasn't going to be an easy task as their next 3 game series would be against the top team in the league, the Soo Greyhounds.

The Soo only have one loss this season and that came early on in the showcase against the Predators. Since then they have been unbeatable and no team in the league has even taken a point from them.

With some bad luck, North Bay has not had a full squad since the beginning of December and things would be no different in this series as they would lose one of their D just before heading down to the Soo.

In game one, North Bay showed the fans that their team really came prepared to play and outwork the Greyhounds, which is not an easy task.

With some grit and determination as well as some outstanding goaltending by Owen Heroux, the Trappers would find themselves going off the ice for a flood after the second with a 2-0 lead.

A 2-0 lead over the Soo? The real question was, is North bay going to be able to weather the third period storm after the Soo Coaches regroup their players between periods.

The two teams come out for the third and North Bay isn't backing down. With some chances to put the game away, the Trappers would instead be the victim of some bad bounces and allow the Soo to get on the board with their first goal of the game.

With a minute and 40 seconds left in the game and looking like North Bay is going to hand the Soo their first loss of the season,  the Soo pulls their goalie but just as their extra attacker is stepping on the ice they take advantage of some puck luck and sneak another one by the North Bay goaltender to tie this one up 2-2.

You can look at this game as a real heartbreaker for North Bay, being so close to beating those pesky Hounds but most felt this was a victory nonetheless by being the first to steal a point in the Soo. 

After game one was in the books the Major Peewee North Bay Trappers knew they could keep up to the Soo Jr Greyhounds.

The score would be 0-0 after the gruelling first period.

It looked like the second period would be the same until North bay would get a late power play and with some nice puck movement, Jackson Culin would unload a shot that no goalie in the league would have been able to stop.

The Trappers would keep the Hounds to the outside and with everyone working very hard they would add an empty net goal to end this game with a well deserved 2-0 win.

Jackson Curran posted a shutout with some outstanding goaltending for the Trappers.

With 3 out of a possible 4 points so far on the weekend and claiming sole second spot in the league again, the Trappers know they have one battle left Sunday morning before the bus ride home.

Once again the Soo would push the pace in the first but Jackson Curran and the Trappers would hold them off the score sheet.

As it's the third game between these two teams, the Soo and their fans seem frustrated. The rough play gets rougher and the jeering from the Soo parents gets louder.

With some very nice passing the Soo got on the board first.

The Trappers would lack offence in this one but they are still within one goal nearing the end of the third.

With a little over two minutes on the clock, the Soo would add their second goal of the game just before the Trappers would look to pull the goalie.

The game would end 2-0 for the Soo. 

Splitting the weekend against the top team in the league was a highlight in North Bay's season and the major peewees hope to build off it.

The Trappers are back at it again on Saturday in Sudbury.