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Big weekend ahead for Battalion

Mike Amadio and the North Bay Battalion have an important three-game stretch ahead of them, starting Thursday night against the Saginaw Spirit at 7 p.m. at Memorial Gardens.

Mike Amadio and the North Bay Battalion have an important three-game stretch ahead of them, starting Thursday night against the Saginaw Spirit at 7 p.m. at Memorial Gardens. FILE PHOTO

Despite North Bay Battalion head coach Stan Butler saying his line up is still "under construction", the troops are looking to add to their mid-season momentum this weekend. 

Coming off a string of difficult games and stealing a point against league leaders Barrie and Erie last week, the troops have positioned themselves third in the Eastern Conference and now face three opportunities to inch closer to the division-leading Barrie Colts this weekend. 

First, the Battalion (21-10-6-3) will look to extend their four-game point streak when they host the Saginaw Spirit on Thursday night.

Saginaw (19-22-1-1), meanwhile, is vying to hang on to the last playoff spot and maintain their position in the middle of the West Division, as they currently sit two points ahead of the Windsor Spitfires.

In their last matchup earlier this month in Saginaw, the Battalion scored a late go-ahead goal in the second period and proceeded to play their typical shutdown style to secure the win. 

Butler says the Spirit put up a tough match that night and that he anticipates more of the same tomorrow.

“The game we played them in their rink, if [goaltender] Jake [Smith] didn’t bring his A-game that day we would’ve been in trouble,” Butler said. “They play hard; they are a good young team and the only thing they lack is experience.

“They want to get into the playoffs to get that experience and they know they have to win some games down the stretch to do that,” he added.

The Spirit have struggled so far in 2015 though, going 3-5-0-0 so far in January and coming into Memorial Gardens riding a two game losing streak. 

Battalion offensive leader Mike Amadio will try to build on his impressive offensive flair of late. In the last two games alone, Amadio has three goals and four assists and has now amassed four multi-point games in January. Butler said the timing of his hot play couldn't be better

“We need some guys to step up, especially with guys out of the lineup,” Butler said. “Mike’s a kid that we drafted that’s a skilled player.

“I think as a 19-year-old he’s a guy that he has a chance to be a top-10 scorer in the OHL,” Butler continued.

However, as Butler said, the team will be working with a lineup that is still “under construction”. Crucial forwards Nick Moutrey and Zach Bratina, who represent a big chunk of missing offensive firepower, will remain sidelined this weekend.

Butler said both players have been skating and working out, but neither have timelines on their return.

“Our lines aren’t what we envision them to be right now, but I give the guys credit,” said Butler. “We are getting a lot of guys working hard and doing a great job.”

After Thursday's battle, the troops will face off against the league-leading Oshawa Generals on Friday night in Oshawa before returning home to host the Sudbury Wolves on Sunday afternoon. 

Brett McKenzie cracks NHL Draft mid-term rankings

Battalion forward Brett McKenzie was named to the 2015 NHL Draft Central Scouting Service midterm rankings on Tuesday, garnering the 124th position.

Butler, though, said he thinks everyone, including McKenzie himself, expected him to step up a bit more this season and have a better pre-draft rating.

“Obviously he’s got to be disappointed; coming into the season, we all thought he would be a top three round pick, a top 90 prospect, so he’s not quite in that,” said Butler.

“I think his play this year has been pretty inconsistent,” he continued. “I think he needs to compete harder and obviously he needs to finish. He’s played power play all year, so his numbers aren’t where they should be.”

McKenzie was named to the NHL Futures List prior to the beginning of the season and was given a “C” ranking at the time, indicating a fourth, fifth or sixth round prospect. 

“He’s a good hockey player; he played great for us in the playoffs last year, he’s a highly motivated kid and I’m hoping this will spur him on to play the kind of hockey that we know he’s capable of playing,” Butler concluded.

For more on McKenzie’s mid-term status, click here: http://www.baytoday.ca/content/sports/details.asp?c=72476 


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Liam Berti

About the Author: Liam Berti

Liam Berti is a University of Ottawa journalism graduate who has since worked for BayToday as the City Council and North Bay Battalion reporter.
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