Battalion and Jr. Trappers reach agreement on affiliation

The North Bay Battalion agreed on one of their junior affiliation slots for next season, and they don’t have to look far to find them.

The Troops and the North Bay Jr. “A” Trappers announced their partnership through a media conference call Friday morning.

Battalion head coach and general manager Stan Butler says he’s gotten to meet with Trappers management and feels comfortable that they can develop young Battalion prospects and get them ready for the Ontario Hockey League.

Butler also says it was important to have an affiliate team close by.

“The biggest thing for me is that there will be some players on the Trapper team that are willing to play in the Ontario Hockey League games and will provide some depth when we need it, if we run into injury situations,” he said.

Trappers general manager Chris Dawson says every team in the NOJHL is allowed two 16-year olds per team. However, he says with changes, he could take up to a maximum of four from teams that aren’t using them.

There is a history of players that have moved through the North Bay Trappers and into the higher ranks, including Sudbury Wolves forward Danny Desrochers and Utica Comets (AHL) defenseman Sasha Guimond. He also pointed out recent LA King acquisition Colin Miller, who played for the Soo in the NOJHL and then moved on to the Greyhounds for the past three seasons.

The Trappers already got the ball rolling, getting talks in with Battalion goaltending prospect Evan Cormier. Butler says one thing they’re concerned about is where his 16-year olds play and that playing for the Trappers would benefit Cormier.

President Mike Griffin says he hasn’t had the opportunity to sit down with the Trappers on details, but says while working together, the Battalion has to make their own foot print on North Bay as well.

“I think for the first year, we’ll stand alone in terms of getting our brand recognized,” he said, “The Trappers have had a long-standing history and anything we can do to help promote them, we’ll do but we do need to make sure the Battalion is well identified.”

Dawson says he understands Griffin, and knows that they have to respect the fact that the OHL is in town.

“We want to work on our side and we want to work hand-in-hand, both from the business side and the hockey side to help make things better for the Battalion,” he said, “To promote the Battalion because we are working together and we want to see the Battalion win and talking to Stan, I know Stan wants us to be successful too so I think it’s a great partnership in terms of working together and I think that makes any hockey community better.”

Butler says overall, he wants hockey to work in North Bay, from the grass roots, all the way up to the OHL level and make players in North Bay better. This agreement also provides an opportunity for undrafted Trapper players.

“We hope what it will do is allow us to (see) maybe a local kid that’s playing, who is a late developer who is playing for the Trappers,” he said.

“You go watch him play and see he’s a pretty good player, we can get him up and play with our team as well but I think at the end of the day, this affiliation provides an excellent opportunity for a local kid can have a chance to get an opportunity to play for their hometown team in the Ontario Hockey League.”

Butler says he'll decide whether to use the other affiliation slot later, depending where his 16-year olds decide to play. If used, the decision will be between the Brampton Bombers (Jr. "B") or the Orangeville Flyers (Jr. "A").