Don't try to convince the North Bay Trappers and Soo Thunderbirds that there was nothing at stake in the 2013 NOJHL championship final.

Despite the fact that both squads were already guaranteed a berth in this year's Dudley Hewitt Cup, with North Bay serving as host community to the event, the Trappers and T-Birds engaged in one of the most entertaining finals the league has seen in recent years.

With Sault Ste Marie battling back from a 3-1 series deficit to force a seventh and deciding game Wednesday night in the Gateway City, everything would be on the line at the venerable Memorial Gardens.

Spurred on by a large and boisterous crowd, the Trappers got off to the start they wanted, building up a 2-0 first period lead on goals from Brennan Dubchak and Duane Wainman.

Dallas McLoughlin made things interesting heading into the final frame, going coast to coast in the second with a beautiful individual effort and closing the gap to just a single goal.

The tight-checking affair produced few quality chances in the third, but with the Thunderbirds pressing, Brandon Janke received a breakaway pass from Trevor Hunt and made no mistake, beating goaltender Joel Horodzieczyk high on the blocker side and earning the North Bay crew a little revenge after losing in the 2012 NOJHL final to the Sault.

Picking up assists on all three North Bay goals on Wendesday evening and increasing his playoff total to 10 points in 12 post-season games, Trevor Hunt was named as the NOJHL Playoff MVP.

After starring with the Nickel City Sons one year ago, Horodziejczyk has moved on to bigger and better things with the T-Birds this year. The young puckstopper is among seven finalists for the first-ever CJHL (Canadian Junior Hockey League) Rookie of the Year award.

The CJHL has established the criteria for the award as covering any player with fewer than 20 games in any Junior A or Major Junior league in previous seasons, and who was 18 or younger as of December 31st of the current campaign.

Horodziejczyk is joined, in the listing of finalists, by Jake Evans (St Michael's Buzzers), Tristan Keck (Winkler Flyers), Jake Larson (Minnesota Wilderness), Tanner MacMaster (Camrose Kodiaks), Morgan Messenger (Yarmouth Mariners) and Kelly Summers (Carleton Place Canadians).

All CJHL award winners will be announced during the week of the Royal Bank Cup from May 6th to the 10th.