When Northern Ontario "AAA" Hockey League regular season play ended, the U14 division standings showcased the Soo Jr Greyhounds (23-3-1), with the North Bay Trappers (12-11-1) and the Thunder Bay Kings (8-6-2) relatively even on paper.

Taking over a team that was among the very best in Ontario last year but which had endured a great deal of turnover this past off-season, with more than a handful of players heading off to the GTHL to pursue their hockey dreams, incoming Trappers' head coach Marc Long focused on continual development.

But for as optimistic as Long might have been regarding his young teens, a 6-1 win in the league playoff final over the Greyhounds was not something he saw coming – even if it was something he had hoped for.

At the end of the day, we won the right game,” said Long, a North Bay native who played with the Sudbury Wolves in 1998-1999 and who has two sons (Kaedyn and Briir) both suiting up with the Greater Sudbury Cubs this year.

“The kids put together their best effort on Sunday. From start to finish, the game plan worked. From goaltending out, it was our day; the kids played unbelievable.”

Liam DeJourdan paced the Trappers with a two-goal effort, with solo markers from Sam Carré, Mac Degagné, Ridley Ringuette and Landon Forsyth, with Tucker Tomlinson standing tall between the pipes.

"The biggest thing for us was getting a complete buy-in from everybody – and the kids were rewarded for it on Sunday,” stressed Long.

Rounding out the North Bay U14 AAA roster this year were Ari Anello, Colton Brunette, Garrett Tran, Graham Twigg, Hudson Demeis, Jacob Krajci, Kazz Renaud Paquette, Mitchell Anderson, Parker Roy, Rylan Ringler and Tyler Pedersen.

The remaining division of the NOHL that wrapped up play for the 2025-2026 season was the U12 AAA grouping, with North Bay upsetting the Soo Jr Greyhounds in the semis, opening the door for the Sudbury Wolves who in turn tripled the Trappers 9-3 in the final.