Trailing both the Soo Jr Greyhounds and the North Bay Trappers in the NOHL (Northern Ontario "AAA" Hockey League) standings, the Sudbury U12 AAA Wolves were looking forward to what promised to be a very evenly matched three game home stand with their eastern rivals last weekend.

Though they would have loved to secure another couple of points, the series played out somewhat as expected for the Wolves, edging the Trappers 5-4 in overtime in game one before dropping back to back 6-4 affairs, with North Bay netting an empty-net insurance marker in both matchups.

“We always have competitive games with them,” noted Sudbury defenceman Adam Dabliz. “It’s not like one team is going to blow out the other. It’s a toss-up – whichever team plays better.”

Dabliz netted a key goal in the Wolves victory, narrowing a third period deficit to 4-3 before Matteo Rocca forced overtime, scoring his second of the game with 38 seconds to play and completing the hat trick in period number four.

Andrew Polack rounded out the Sudbury scoring while Kole Ogletree, Sam Carré, Zackael Bray and Jacob Krajci replied for the Trappers. As for our soon-to-be 12 year blueliner, Dabliz has noticed the jump in play in making the move to AAA hockey for the first time and is pretty pleased, overall, with his ability to adapt.

“When you get the puck now, you have way less time and space, so you have to think and make the move quicker than any time before,” he said. “I think I am good at moving the puck and keeping my head up. That’s what my coach in first year rep noticed and why he put me as a defenceman.”

Game two would see North Bay rally from a 3-2 second period deficit, outscoring Sudbury 4-1 in the third as Rocca added two more goals to his offensive resume, joined on the scoresheet by Oliver Frantz and Graham Chevrier.

North Bay countered with a nicely distributed attack as Kole Ogletree, Jacob Krajci, Sawyer Gedanitz, Colton Brunette, Tanner Walsh and Liam Dejourdan all hit the mark in the win.

Game three did not start well for the homeside, trailing 3-0 after the first and 4-0 at one point before making a game of it on goals from Chevrier (2), Rocca and Noah Therrien. “I think we showed a lot of maturity coming back,” said Dabliz. “In the first game, we were down 2-0 and 4-2 and ended up winning in overtime.”

“Even in this game, we were down 4-0 and came back and made it a close game.”

The Trappers' offense was jump-started by the quartet of Landon Forsyth, Colton Brunette, Sawyer Gedanitz and Brunette, for a second time, with Jordan Adekoya and Liam Dejourdan closing things out in the third.

The Wolves will take to the road this coming weekend, taking their 5-13-0 mark into Sault Ste Marie to face the first place 11-2-0 Jr Greyhounds before welcoming that same opponent to the nickel city for a three game set on February 10th and 11th.

Rounding out the Sudbury U12 AAA roster for head coach Jordan Kuruliak are Ben Dabous, Ethan Caetano, Mathew Christakos, Rory Frood, Massimo Gianfrancesco, Carter Leclair, Maxim Leclair, Tristan Mann, Gareth Mead, Keagan Thibault and Ty Thibault.