Trappers host big TV game to end regular season

Trappers asssistant coach Norm Marion goes through a drill with the players at practice Wednesday night as they prepare for a home game at Memorial Gardens. Photo by Chris Dawson.

The North Bay Trappers are not only leaving the comforts of West Ferris arena Saturday afternoon, they are also going to be playing in front of a live TV audience.

Cogeco Cable 12 will be broadcasting the game between the Timmins Majors and the North Bay Trappers live starting at 1:30 Saturday afternoon.

The game won't mean a lot in the standing for the Trappers, who, win, lose or tie Saturday, will face the Valley East Cobras next weekend in the first round of the Great North Midget League playoffs.

However the Trappers skipper is still expecting a solid Trappers performance at Memorial Gardens.

“It’s a very important game for us, to use this game to prepare ourselves for the playoffs, we got to play a real solid game," said head coach Larry Keenan at practice earlier this week.

"We have to work on our defensive play as much as we can because we really have to tighten up especially in our own end. And I think it’s important for all the individual players to be at the top of their game, because I maintain that making the playoffs, we can be pretty dangerous if we get there.”

Home Ice Advantage?

Keenan believes a change of venue, going from the smaller West Ferris arena to the large sheet at Memorial Gardens, is good for his club.

“You have to adapt to it the same as the other teams have to adapt to the smaller ice surfaces,” Keenan said noting they played regular season games at large ice surfaces like the Olympic sized sheet at Countryside Arena in Sudbury.

“The angles are basically the same, you just have a little more time to make your play on the bigger ice surface, so I don’t think the ice surface hurts us at all," Keenan adds.

All eyes on Katic

A number of OHL scouts are expected to add to the attendence numbers Saturday. A lot of teams are keeping a close eye on Timmins Majors defenceman Mark Katic, who's expected to be taken in the first round of this spring's OHL entry draft.