Trappers of all levels, including Peewee AAA Trappers forward Brady Lyle (middle) and Bantam AAA Trappers captain Tyler Peters(far right) enjoy a Trappers donut during Tuesdays Trappers Day in the Bay press conference. Photo by Clint Thomas.
Trappers of all levels, including Peewee AAA Trappers forward Brady Lyle (middle) and Bantam AAA Trappers captain Tyler Peters(far right) enjoy a Trappers donut during Tuesdays Trappers Day in the Bay press conference. Photo by Clint Thomas.
It turns out there's one simple, surefire way to take a great, daylong celebration of hockey in Hockeyville and make it even better.
Just add sprinkles.
Four North Bay hockey teams that play under the Trappers banner announced plans Wednesday for the first annual "Trappers Day in the Bay" event to be held Sunday, November 14th at Memorial Gardens.
The North Bay and District Peewee AAA, West Ferris Hilltop Variety Bantam AAA, North Bay Midget AAA and North Bay Jr. A squads will all take to the ice that day to pay homage to the Trappers name and the lengthy and storied local hockey legacy that goes with it.
And to literally put the icing on top, Tim Horton's is introducing a unique "Trappers Donut" at its North Bay stores beginning that day -- a vanilla dip pastry with red, white, and blue sprinkles representing team colours.
"It maybe, at least in my mind, one of the greatest celebrations of minor hockey ever in North Bay," said Jr. A Trappers president Chris Dawson.
Dawson says the idea was first proposed this past summer by Midget AAA Trappers president and general manager Scott Kile, who says it'll be a great showcase for local fans.
"They're gonna see the talent around, they're gonna see what the programs have to offer," Kile said.
"The minor hockey system is working hard to build players and we're working hard so that the juniors can have some local players and it'd be nice for people to see where they come from."
It's a sentiment echoed by Midget AAA captain Tyler Field, who hopes this will provide him with an opportunity to showcase his talents for fans who may mostly focus on higher level hockey.
"I think there's a lot of skill level at all the different age categories," Field said.
The action on the 14th will start at 10:30 a.m. as the Peewee Trappers host the Soo. The Bantams take the ice at 12:30 p.m. also against a Soo squad, followed by the Midgets facing New Liskeard at 3:20 p.m. The Jr. A Trappers will face Sudbury in the nightcap at 7 p.m.
The consensus among the four teams is that by unifying the many levels of hockey under the same nickname, young hockey players in the city will identify themselves as a Trapper and develop an allegiance at an early age. The Trappers logo is now even included on the shoulders of jerseys worn by the local Timbit beginner teams.
"When you go away, everybody's Trappers, I think that's just going to grow around the province and everywhere we bring our teams, it's just a super thing," said Bantam AAA head coach Tim Scott.
"I think we're finally starting to move in the right direction, I know it's been a long time coming," Scott said.
Anyone involved in the local minor hockey scene over the years knows there hasn't always been this level of cohesion -- far from it. But much like the shape of a Trapper Donut, Kile suggests relations between the different factions have come full circle.
"It's the old pendulum swinging again, and we're coming back the other way and you know what, we're going to take advantage of it," Kile said.
"We're trying to forget about the minor hockey wars of the past, and trying to focus on what we're here for, and that's for the kids and the community of North Bay."
The clubs hope this will become an annual celebration, and will also help to foster the common purpose needed at the various levels in local minor hockey to properly cultivate young talent.
"With the Trapper name, it puts it all together," said peewee coach Bruce Cazabon.
"Hopefully in the future we'll be able to see a triple A organization like we used to have so we can start developing players the way we used to."
The involvement of Tim Horton's with Trappers Day in the Bay, meanwhile, was a "natural connection" given the company's close ties to local minor hockey at all levels, said regional marketing manager John McLellan.
"We wanted to get involved in some way and try and give back to the community," he said.
"People around hockey a long time ago are really happy (the Trappers) name came back."
The Trappers Donut will be sold only on Jr. A Trappers game days -- at least to start, McLellan added.
