View from Section 8 - A Midget Trappers Road Trip

"Views from Section 8" returns! It's a popular column written by Don "Butch" Turcotte. The former Trappers Junior "A" coach and father of former NHLer and Lakers assistant coach Darren Turcotte will be chiming in with his thoughts here on BayToday.ca. Enjoy!

Thanks to Scott Kile, I was fortunate to get a bus seat with the Midget Trappers on their week-end trip to my hometown Kapuskasing. Departure was 9:00 a.m. Saturday from the Sam Jacks Arena. Seemed like the team was all pumped up for the trip and hopefully improve their dismal record with a couple ice victories. The team got shut-out in the win column but the positives outweighed the negatives in my estimation.

In my days of travelling team bus trips the staff sat at the front of the bus but Coach John Couch and assistant coach Mike Reise parked themselves at the back of the bus 'with the boys'. From the Bay to New Liskeard the coaches organized a NHL hockey draft pool.

At New Liskeard there was a 'pit stop' at the Tim Horton's where the boys gathered in a vacant lot for some stretches then to the coffee shop for some goodies. About a half hour from Cochrane Coach Couch played a video "Working off the puck defensively" by Barry Trotz (head coach of the Nashville Predators). Coach Couch narrated the video with his explanations using reverse and stop action shots. After another Timmies stop in Cochrane (no stretches this time) it was west to Kapuskasing at which time the "25th Anniversary of Slapshot" starring Paul Newman was played.

Reaching Kapuskasing, the bus pulled into a pasta restaurant near their overnight headquarters, the local Super 8. The team got off the bus while the seven family team members were bused to the motel.

My sister was waiting for me and I left the team until game time.

I am assuming there were about 200 fans at the Sports Palace, including probably family members, friends and a few high school classmates.

The referee was Guy Losier a former Trapper player in the mid-70'ss. It was well officiated but the Trappers seemed to be a step behind the locals during most of the game.

The Flyers had signed a JF Sylvestre (Cochrane native) that day. I am told that he had Junior experience and had attended the past two Sarnia Stings tryout camps. He basically won the game for the Flyers. He had 2 goals and 4 helpers on the first 6 Kap goals. The Kap team went on to win the game 8-4.

After a good visit and sleep-over at my sister Arlene and brother-in-law Gaston's home it was back to the rink for game two Sunday at 1:00 p.m. I thought that the Trappers would get redemption but I was wrong. The game official was BRUTAL. Both teams seemed disoriented because of the poor officiating. How can a midget game last 2 hours and 45 minutes. There were numerous uncalled-for deliberations amongst the referee, players and coaches. I felt sorry for these young athletes who were trying to perform for the 250 or so fans. Flyers captain Sebastien Tessier scored 4 of the Kap 7 goals in a 7-2 victory.

On boarding the homeward bound ONR bus you could read the results on the faces of these young athletes. They were not happy campers and the trip home probably seemed a little longer than had there been a victory to cheer on. Pizza and drinks were on the menu for the road meal.

On the return trip I noticed that the players each pulled out a binder. I found out that they had to report on their recent game on a page entitled 'Personal Game Sheet'. The page included personal info on the game. At the bottom it had to be signed by the player and then the coach. I understand that all players must complete this page after each game. Great idea.

Coach Couch gave me a copy of the binder for perusal. It is entitled MAKING IT WORK. It includes a Team Agreement page, a Pre-Game Schedule page, Personal Game sheets and Practice Log sheets. I am fascinated by this presentation! Now only if they can put some numbers in the win column, the program would be a complete package.

From the Press Box

On my odd walks up and down the aisles I could overhear the team players talking about their classmates and 'friends'. Young Brett Hargraves had nothing to do with that. He was talking about what costume he was going to wear for Halloween.

Thanks for the privilege of being part of a the TEAM this past week-end. It was a great experience!