Minor Bantam
The North Bay Assante - Thomson Financial Partners Minor Bantam Trappers faced the Timmins Northstars this past Saturday at the Powassan Sportsplex for game five of the best of five Minor Bantam semi-final.
The Trappers took the lead early in the first period off the stick of Aiden Lucier but would surrender a power play marker only a minute later knotting the game a 1-1. Cooper Brazeau found the back of the net to give the Trappers the lead and Lucier would score his second of the game to end the first period with the trappers ahead 3-1.
The Trappers didn’t look back as their relentless fore check coupled with solid defensive play would see them cap the afternoon off with an 8-1 victory. Aiden Lucier’s play came to life as he lead the offense with 3 goals, Chase Thompson added two of his own as Brazeau’s power play goal proved to be the eventual game winner.
Justin Turgeon and Tristan Perry would strike with singles of their own on the way to the win. Dylan Lemcke stood tall with a solid performance between the pipes to secure a berth in the final.
The Trappers await the winner of the other semi-final between Nickel City and the Soo Greyhounds as those teams play a fifth and deciding game this Wednesday.
Major Peewee
The North Bay Hopper/GMC Major Peewee AAA Trappers punched their ticket to the NOHL finals courtesy of a tight 1-0 win over the Timmins North Stars in game three of their best-of-five series Saturday afternoon in Timmins.
Defenceman Davis Anello broke a 0-0 deadlock in the late stages of the third period with a highlight reel rush and shot into the top corner past the Timmins netminder Roch Pilon for the lone goal of the contest.
Then it was Brett Ruddy, a Temiskaming Shores Peewee A Puckhounds affiliate goalie who held off the North Stars shooters to help the Trappers win the deciding game and sweep the series in three straight.
“Brett made the saves we needed him to make at key times during the penalty filled game,” said head coach John Couch.
“He was focused and played great.”
Ruddy was forced into action with both regular Trappers Peewee AAA goalies Justin Robinson and Mikey Purkhart both out with injuries.
“The hockey gods have not exactly been on our side but our guys have never let it discourage them from losing focus on our goals and the process to get us there,” he said.
“Special teams was the key to this victory and a defensive end shut down by everyone.”
The Trappers will now travel to Greater Sudbury this weekend for Game 1 & 2 of the finals against the Nickel City Sons.
Minor Peewee
An incredible third period comeback catapulted the North Bay Greco's Lakeshore Minor Peewee AAA Trappers past the Timmins North Stars and onto the NOHL finals.
The Trappers, down 5-2 in the third period, scored five unanswered goals en route to a 7-5 win in game three of the best-of-five series. Grayden Robertson-Palmer led the attack with two goals. Singles in the huge comeback win came from Briir Long, Hudson Duquette, Rowyn St. Louis, Owen Head and Nick Corbeil.
The big comeback gave the Trappers a 2-1 series lead and a chance to wrap things up Sunday morning in Timmins. In that contest, the confident Trappers cruised to a 5-0 win to take the series 3 games to 1. Robertson-Palmer led the way again with three goals while Long contributed a pair in the victory. Jackson Curran was credited with the shutout.
