NB Trappers a balanced act
Six teams in the Great North Midget Hockey League begin opening-round playoff action this weekend while the North Bay Trappers have a bye as a result of their first-place finish during the regular season.
Despite not being the top-scoring team in the Great North loop, North Bay had the best goals against average, stingy totals of two goals against per outing that led the Trappers to first place with 61 points from a record of 30-5-1.
Indeed, North Bay goalies Joel Rainville and Drew Joyal combined for the best numbers in the seven-team league. Rainville was in net for 18 of North Bay’s 30 wins while Joyal posted the other 12 triumphs.
And North Bay’s top scorer during the regular season was, fittingly, a defenseman — Jake Gravelle.
In fact, two of the Trappers top scorers during the 2016-2017 regular season were defensemen — Gravelle and Dylan Bond.
Of further note, a glance at the North Bay scoring chart reveals balance throughout the lineup.
Players are listed below with stats that indicate games played, goals, assists, points.
Jake Gravelle (LD) 36 15 30 45
Nick Davis (RW) 36 16 26 42
Ryan Mills (LW) 35 22 15 37
Mason McMahon (C) 33 15 22 37
Joe Whittet (LW) 27 17 15 32
Cole Craft (RW) 36 13 19 32
Dylan Bond (LD) 35 14 17 31
Matt Hardwick (RW) 34 16 11 27
Eric Mondoux (LW) 36 4 23 27
Payton Vescio (RD) 36 6 20 26
Ian Denomme (LW) 31 7 13 20
Brett Shawana (C) 33 4 16 20
Erik Lachance (LW) 35 9 6 15
Sam Garagan (C) 33 6 9 15
Bailey Chenier (LW) 33 9 5 14
Nick Wojick (RW) 25 5 8 13
Jacob Peterson Galema (LD) 29 2 8 10
Kobe Seguin (LD) 27 1 7 8