Mathieu Turgeon scored eight times in a three game weekend sweep by the Hopper Buick/GMC Major Peewee AAA Trappers over the Sudbury Wolves.
The Trappers won all three games by a score of 4-2.
“This weekend in Sudbury saw our guys play a very defensive oriented game. Our goaltending was solid, the defensemen played huge holding off the Wolves attack and our offensive rush was awesome,” stated Trappers major peewee AAA head coach John Couch.
“Mathieu Turgeon had a big weekend with 8 goals, his quick release shot is deadly and he has a real knack for hitting the net. Overall we couldn't have asked for a better result before Christmas.”
On Saturday afternoon, Turgeon netted two goals with singles going to Jesse Lefebvre and Ayden Thomason in the opening game.
On Saturday evening, Turgeon scored all four goals in the 4-2 victory.
Then on Sunday morning, the Trappers battled back from a 2-1 third period deficit to pull out the 4-2 win. Turgeon scored the equalizer and eventual game winner on the same shift. Nate Gravelle had two goals including an empty netter to secure the third victory to round out their pre-Christmas schedule.
Temiskaming Shores affiliate goaltender Brett Ruddy was solid in goal for all three wins filling in for injured Trappers netminders Justin Robinson and Michael Purkhart.
The Trappers, who sit in top spot in the NOHLAAA standings, are back in action in the first weekend of the new year as they take part in the Oshawa annual AAA Challenge.
Major Bantam
Meantime, it was a quiet weekend for the Major Bantam AAA Trappers as they tied the Nickel City Sons 2-2 in their final home game before the Christmas Break Saturday afternoon at the Verner arena.
Todd Violette led the way with one goal and one assist. Nico Laforge had the other Trappers goal while Caelen McAuliffe was in goal for the draw.
Minor Bantam
The North Bay Assante-Thomson Financial Partners Minor Bantam AAA Trappers took to home ice to play the Nickel City Sons for a pair of games this past weekend in Verner.
Game one proved once again to be a barn burner as the two rivals would skate to a 4-4 tie as the NC team tied it late with 0:26 sec left in the third with the net empty and an extra attacker. The penalty filled game saw a total of 146 minutes of penalties handed out - 66 minutes to the Trappers and 80 minutes to the visiting NC squad.
Goal scorers for the Trappers were Justin Turgeon, Aiden Lucier, Justin Rousseau and Chase Thompson who would add and assist on the Rousseau goal along with Tristan Perry. Kaedyn Long, Nolan Masson would also add helpers in the tie.
Game two of the set would see the Trapper team come out on top taking the victory by a score of 4-0. Dylan Lemke collected the shut out for the Trappers as the balanced attack from the Trapper team saw 4 different players bulge the twine.
The eventual game winner was fired off the stick of Perry with Ryley Wolfe and Lucier added helpers. Cooper Brazeau, Carson Laronde and Lucier finished off the scoring in the win.
"Every time we play NC we know we are in for a battle, they are big, fast and strong and have excellent goaltending,” remarked Trappers minor bantam AAA head coach Sheldon Masson.
“The Trappers have battled their way to first place and look to keep the momentum going after the break.”
The Minor Bantam AAA Trappers sit on top of the NOHLAAA standings with a 16-2-3 record.
They take on the Sons Dec. 29th and 30th in Powassan in what is expected to be another hard fought set.
