The Sudbury Nickel Capital Wolves took a bite out of the North Bay Major Midget AAA Trappers with a late lucky goal to win 2-1 at Memorial Gardens, Thursday.
But the close battle between the top teams in the Great North Midget League was just the tip of the iceberg for more than a half-dozen home-ice contests in the North Bay area this weekend.
The Powassan Voodoos of the NOJHL host three games in four days, beginning with the Kirkland Lake Gold Miners Friday night and Hearst on Saturday with Cochrane coming to the Sportsplex Monday. All three of the East Division visitors are in playoff position races with Cochrane holding second with the Gold Miners close behind and Hearst in a tangle with Timmins for fourth.
The Nipissing Lakers men host the UOIT Ridgebacks for OUA action Friday at the Gardens. And on Saturday, the RMC Paladins are coming to town for the 9th annual Military Appreciation Night, with the women’s team hosting the Laurentian Voyageurs at 4:30 p.m. The Lakers are just three points out of third place in the OUA’s women’s standings while the men are holding on to seventh place by a hair.
In Temiscaming, QC, on Saturday night the North Bay Minor Midget AAA Trappers host the Kapuskasing Flyers with the Minor Midget Capital Wolves set up for a noon showdown there Sunday.
At the Gardens Sunday, the North Bay Battalion host the Niagara IceDogs for a 1 p.m. tilt that has playoff seeding implications. Niagara is close on the Barrie Colts' heels for first place in the OHL Central Division while the Troops (as of Friday before they visit the Ottawa 67’s) are one point behind the Oshawa Generals for fifth place in the Eastern Conference.
And the Major Midget Trappers are back at it Sunday, as well, with a 2:30 p.m date with Kapuskasing in Powassan.
They’ll probably feel like they let one slip out of their hands against the Wolves, which are now just two points behind them for first place in the Great North Midget League.
Trappers forward Hunter Foreshew had tied the game 1-1 early in the third period, connecting on a Sam Garagan pass during a power play carried over from the middle frame. Matt Hardwick got the second helper.
And North Bay had several chances to take the lead but didn’t capitalize.
Sudbury’s Parker Savard ended up with the game-winner after the Wolves won a puck battle along the boards, with hustle creating a two-on-one with former Trappers player Brett Shawana.
North Bay defenceman Kobe Seguin went prone along the ice to stop Parker’s pass to Shawana. The puck however caught a piece of Seguin as Trappers goalie Joel Rainville leaned slight toward Shawana to get set for a one-timer. And he couldn’t get his glove down in time or close the gap between him and the post with his pad.
In the remaining 1:15 left to play, North Bay tried to pull Rainville for the extra attacker but the play was whistled down as the sixth player was too quick onto the ice.
The Trappers got the puck back into Sudbury’s zone and were close to getting it on net. There wasn’t enough time, however, and Sudbury celebrated with Shawana getting two assists in the win over his former Trappers teammates. The first helper was on Joe Mazur’s goal just 12 seconds into the game.
Twitter: @ddale1965
