Trappers forward Mitchell Davis (far left) is stopped on a wrap-around attempt late in the third period. Photo by Chris Dawson. The North Bay Trappers certainly have some work to do in the coming weeks in preparation for the season.
Trappers forward Mitchell Davis (far left) is stopped on a wrap-around attempt late in the third period. Photo by Chris Dawson.
The North Bay Trappers certainly have some work to do in the coming weeks in preparation for the season. In a game filled with mental lapses, especially in the defensive zone, the Trappers dropped a 7-3 decision to the Sudbury Nickel Captial Wolves Saturday afternoon at the Memorial Gardens. Having already cut the team down to 29, from the original 56 players who tried out, it was almost a split squad game for the Trappers who hope to have their roster at 18 by the start of the season.
The Wolves opened the scoring early in the first period. After Trappers forward Mitchell Davis was stopped by Sudbury starting goaltender Kevin Reynen, the Wolves went down the ice and beat Trappers starter Nicolas Devuono. Wolves captain Devan Stillar took a pass from Stefan Herrington and put the puck in the back of the net to give the Wolves a 1-0 lead. The Trappers responded just over a minute later when Anthony Trozzo took a feed from Nick Huard, and knotted the game at 1-1. Trappers Head Coach Robin Boucher was very pleased with the play of Trozzo Saturday.
“He really played well,” said Boucher regarding Trozzo’s all around game.
“He is one guy that really caught our eye today. He’s from out of town and trying to make an impression and he certainly did that. He is one of the guys that really picked up their intensity for this game.”
The Wolves responded with three goals in the final 11 minutes of the first period, to carry a 4-1 lead into the intermission. Stillar had another goal and an assist, while Denis Restoule and Nick Micelotta also tallied goals for the Wolves.
The Trappers got back in the game on the power play seven minutes into the second. Davis was the recipient of a generous bounce off the boards and was able to put the puck into an empty net to make the score 4-2. The Trappers then seemed to take some momentum, taking the physical game to the Wolves. However a giveaway in their own end midway through the period allowed Restoule to walk in alone and pot his second of the game, making the score 5-2. Both teams then switched their goaltenders, with the Trappers sending in Patrick Rochefort, and the Wolves putting in Landon Noel.
North Bay came out hard in the third, creating a lot of chances early on, but they were not able to get anything past Noel. The Trappers then took their first penalty of the game six minutes into the third and the Wolves were quick to pounce. Mark Randa scored his first of two goals in the period to give the Wolves a 6-2 lead. His second goal was highlight reel material as he undressed the Trappers and put the Wolves up 7-2 with seven minutes to play. The Trappers did add another goal, but it was too little too late, in what was a 7-3 final.
After the game Boucher acknowledged that the mental lapses are something that needs to be worked on.
“The mental lapses cost us some goals,” said Boucher in regards to the mistakes made in the Trappers end.
“It is something we are going to have work on. However, the guys worked really hard out there today. We battled hard, and we had a good effort, we just need to cut back on the mistakes.”
Boucher also said that the team is going to wait to name captains as none of the Trappers were sporting letters on Saturday afternoon.
“Well it was just an exhibition game, but we are waiting to see who steps up. We have a couple of guys in mind, but we want to see what happens over the next week or so. We want to see who shows the intensity, and the drive,” said Boucher.
Trappers’ fans will have their chance to evaluate who steps up Sunday afternoon as the Trappers play host to the Nickel City Sons. Puck is again scheduled to drop at 1:30 at the Memorial Gardens.
