Minor Bantam AAA Trappers go the distance to win NOHA title

The North Bay & District Assante-Thomson Financial Partners minor bantam AAA Trappers are Northern Ontario Hockey Association (NOHA) champions as they defeated the visiting Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds 6-3 at the Powassan Sportsplex.  

It was the deciding fifth game of the best-of-five series.  The Hounds forced game five thanks to an overtime win in game four in Sault Ste. Marie last Sunday.  

“The game five message was the same message every game since the beginning of the season,  attention to detail, stick to the game plan and trust each other,” said Trappers head coach Sheldon Masson.  

Masson noted his team needed to win races to the puck, not be outworked and trust the systems.   

“Really that is key for any coach at any level,  that the players buy in, trust the system and execute the game plan,” said Masson.  

“Having great associate coaches was huge for us, great hockey knowledge, great communicators and understanding what it takes to win.”

Captain Kaedyn Long says it was great to hoist the trophy as Northern Ontario’s best.

“It's a great feeling to win,” he said.

“My teammates worked hard all year long week in and week out.”

Justin Rousseau and Justin Turgeon had two goals each for the Trappers while Carson Laronde and Nolan Masson added singles for the win.

Lincoln Moore led the Hounds with two goals.   

Vaughn Thomson got the win in goal in the deciding game for the Trappers. 

Team members include: Thomas Sefton, Chase Thompson, Ryley Wolfe, Caleb Shank, Aiden Lucier, Cooper Brazeau, Dylan Lemcke, Vaughn Thomson, Justin Turgeon, Justin Rousseau, Kaedyn Long, Royce Rochefort, Kasen Paquette, Skyler Shepstone, Nolan Masson, Tristan Perry, and Carson Laronde.  Coaches are Sheldon Masson, Marc Long, Chris Fraser, trainer Shawn Shank, and manager Jeannine Wolfe.