The North Bay Battalion are set to start their sophomore season at home against the Barrie Colts at Memorial Gardens on Friday night. After losing in the OHL Championship series last season, the team is looking to use that experience as motivation this year. PHOTO BY LIAM BERTI
After a long, anxious wait, the North Bay Battalion are ready to get back to business.
Following a surreal inaugural season in their new home, the reigning OHL Eastern Conference Champions are ready to prove their first campaign in town wasn’t a fluke when they launch their sophomore season in front of hometown fans tomorrow night at 7 p.m.
“It’s going to be a big game for everyone, but we’re going to be ready for it,” said returning defenceman Kyle Locke. “We just want to be as ready as possible so that when we do get out there we know what we’re doing and we can walk away with points from the first couple games.”
With training camp and pre-season play now wrapped up, the troops have their sights set solely on getting the best possible start to their season against the Barrie Colts.
Carrying last season’s momentum over would be a welcome element. While their first campaign didn’t get off to the greatest of starts, hovering around the .500 mark until just after the new year, it was the way the team finished their season that has North Bay wanting more.
After winning 20 of their last 29 regular season games, the troops rallied to secure the second playoff seed in the Eastern Conference and carried that momentum to an appearance in the OHL Championship series.
But despite falling 4-1 to Guelph in the showdown with the Guelph Storm in the finals, the invaluable experience of making a championship run is sure to have a lasting impact on the remaining troops.
“We had a surreal year last year; we all bought into the system and played our roles well, which sets us up well for this year,” said Locke. “A lot of teams will be coming after us, but we like to play our own style of hockey, so we just have to do what we do best.”
The team’s Conference Championship banners will be revealed prior to tomorrow night’s puck drop at Memorial Gardens.
Ever since last spring’s elimination, analysts have asked how the Battalion will manage to replace the likes of offensive leaders Barclay Goodrow, Ben Thomson and Vincent Praplan.
But with more opportunities up front, the team is expected to see incumbents like Nick Paul, Mike Amadio and Brett McKenzie take over the offensive leadership. Of course, the addition of 6’ 5” Swedish winger Hampus Olsson is expected to have a strong scoring factor as well.
On the blue line though, fans will be treated to seeing six returning defensemen from last year’s strong defensive core to lay the foundation for Battalion-style hockey.
That style, in case anyone needs reminding, places a high priority on sound defensive responsibility, an aggressive forecheck and an emphasis on out-working each and every opponent.
And even though both the town and the team might have higher expectations than in the past, the players claim the past bears no extra pressure on the revamped roster.
“If anything, it’s more of a motivation,” said Locke. “Now we know the mentality that’s required to get there, so hopefully that just inspires us to do even better so we can, hopefully, make the same run.”
The team now also has all six of their NHL prospects back in North Bay from their big league training camps, and with one focus in mind: the new OHL season.
“When you’re a player trying to get a contract, like these guys are, there’s a lot of motivation,” said Battalion Head Coach Stan Butler.
“We’re a development league and, quite frankly, we want to develop our guys as fast as possible to the next level, and if that happens we have to act accordingly,” Butler continued. “But there’s no doubt that when you do get those players back, it’s going to make you a better team.”
The one aspect of the Battalion’s game that is all-but-guaranteed to repeat last season’s performance is what coach Butler calls the ‘seventh man’: the North Bay fans.
“Last year, we started the first nine games of the season on the road,” said Marcus McIvor, the team’s new captain. “But this year, we’ve been here before and we’ve been through it. We know the fans love us and we love them, so we’re going to play as best we can and use the advantage of our fans.
“We’re all excited,” he continued. “It’s going to be a great night and we’re going to be ready and raring to go.”
Game time is 7 p.m. at Memorial Gardens.
