After being acquired in two big trades earlier this week, Ryan Kujawinski, left, and Nick Moutrey got their first opportunity to practice with the team this week. In their debut game with the troops in Ottawa on Tuesday, Kujawinski registered a goal and an assist, while Moutrey was named first star for his one goal, two assist performance. PHOTOS BY LIAM BERTI
They are both big, strong, power forwards; they are both highly-touted NHL draftees; and, together, they make up the newest members of the North Bay Battalion.
After being acquired in two separate trades earlier this week, Nick Moutrey and Ryan Kujawinski were introduced to the media as members of the Battalion for the first time Thursday afternoon.
The two newcomers wasted no time getting acclimatized to their new team when they laced up in Ottawa on Tuesday night, but they only got the chance to practice with the team on Wednesday and Thursday.
Moutrey put up a goal and two assists in his Battalion debut on Tuesday, while Kujawinski made his presence felt immediately with a goal and an assist.
Placed on a line with incumbent troop Mike Amadio, the tandem were also named first and third stars of the game, respectively.
“This is a great place to play hockey; the fans are great, they have a great coaching staff and I’ve heard so many great things about North Bay,” Kujawinski said before practice on Thursday.
A consistent offensive performer, Moutrey registered 84 points over the last two seasons with the Saginaw Spirit and has already tied his career-best point total of 43 points this season.
Moutrey, a fourth-round draft pick of the Columbus Blue Jackets, also brings a leadership quality with his game. After being named an assistant captain with the Spirit, Moutrey was promoted to captain of his former squad in November.
“They said they want me to be a leader on and off the ice, help the young guys out and contribute offensively and use my body to my advantage,” the 6-foot, 3-inch forward said of his discussions with Battalion coaching staff. “Letter [on the jersey] or not, you still have to be a leader.”
Kujawinski, a third round pick of the New Jersey Devils, was brought in from the Kingston Frontenacs for his physical style, dynamic skating and offensive touch, with 14 goals and 11 assists through 28 games this season. The move to North Bay also brings Kujawinski closer to his home of Iroqouis Falls.
He also said that his conversations about North Bay with former troop and fellow New Jersey draft pick, Ben Thomson, have him excited about making the transition.
“I think my game suits this team pretty well,” Kujawinski explained. “In Kingston we played a defensive style too, so a lot of the stuff is the same as here in North Bay, so I just have to keep playing my game; skate hard, finish checks and just play hard.”
The Battalion, who clearly fancy themselves as serious contenders in the playoff picture, bolstered their lineup by shipping off a handful of draft picks and young depth players Jared Steege and Evan Cormier.
“You put a wish list together and you put your guys in order that you want them,” Battalion head coach Stan Butler said earlier in the week. “I would say that we were pretty lucky that we got them in the order that we wanted them.
“We feel that we’ve given ourselves a better chance to win, but it doesn’t guarantee anything,” he added.
Filling the void of outgoing goaltender Cormier, the team also picked up goaltender Jake Kment, a sixth-round draft pick of the Battalion from Sault Ste. Marie, Ont. Kment, who hasn't played all season, will backup starter Jake Smith this weekend.
The reconstructed team are preparing for an important road trip south of the border against the Plymouth Whalers on Friday night and the Saginaw Spirit on Saturday night, giving Moutrey the opportunity to faceoff against his former team already.
“It will be weird getting dressed in the other room down the hall, but it will be good to see the old fans and my old billet there,” said Moutrey. “The last few years [in Saginaw] we were looking more to the future, but finally it’s good to be on a great team and I’m looking forward to it.”
Despite being three points back of the Central Division-leading Barrie Colts, the Battalion have two games in-hand on their divisional rivals.
Butler’s bunch will also be welcoming Nick Paul back into the lineup after his tenure with the gold medal-winning World Junior team, another boost to the offensive flair of late. Paul did not practice with the team all week after being given a break after the hectic tournament, but will be in the line up Friday night.
Hopes are also high that forward Zach Bratina will be able to make it back in the lineup soon after suffering concussion-like symptoms that have plagued his season. The latest report has him visiting the doctor on the 12th for an update.
