Bluelines: High hopes for boys at Battalion camp

It’s the most wonderful time of the year, crooned Andy Williams.

No, not back to school, though weary parents would present a strong case for such.  No the most wonderful time of the year is North Bay Battalion training camp, starting Wednesday at 9:00AM with a Chippewa Secondary School open house for new and returning players.

Pushing the season perhaps?  I don’t think so.  Battalion hockey has come to mean more to this community than just a winter pastime.  These twice weekly meetings at Memorial Gardens have evolved into a community event, where friends and neighbours gather and catch up on hockey, yes, but also everything else, like water meters, and catch limits, and elections…which reminds me…if Anthony Rota knocks on your door, do me a favour and ask him if he’s at all related to Darcy Rota, the former all-star left winger for the Chicago Blackhawks and Vancouver Canucks.  That would be awesome…

But I digress...

At any rate, in just two seasons of OHL hockey, we’ve been treated to two Conference final duels, both against the Oshawa Generals.  The Battalion franchise has now achieved that pinnacle three times over the past ten seasons and, over that same span, only Belleville and London have made it to the final four more often. 

I wonder what the chances are for a third straight final four appearance by the Troops?

Well, in the past ten years, only two teams have made a three-peat appearance in the final four: the Belleville Bulls between 2006-07 and 2008-09 and the Windsor Spitfires between 2008-09 and 2010-11.  Both great teams with great coaches.  Can the Battalion make it back to the summit for a third time?  We know we’ve got the coaching.  Though he didn’t need to emphasize the point, but heeding the beck and call of Hockey Canada this summer anyway, coach Stan Butler assembled a bunch of Canadian kids and won gold in convincing fashion at the Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament in the Czech Republic. 

Nuff said, about our coaching. 

But what about this year’s team?  This deep question will soon be answered.  The players involved are more than names and numbers on a page.  They are young men, in some cases still baby-faced, with hopes of a career in hockey teetering on their performance this week.  Their families will be watching from the stands, while their friends are back home waiting on the verdict.  This week represents reality for these players, one as dramatic as any reality show on television. 

Greg Theberge, my broadcast partner at The OHL Tonight on TVCogeco, is no stranger to the pressure cooker environment of training camp.  He has survived his fair share of both junior and pro camps, and has experienced the gamut of emotions both personally and through the eyes of his son, former Peterborough Pete, Brett Theberge.

To gain his perspective of the week to come, I tracked Greg down in Montreal and asked him what it’s all about.

“For me it’s all about the depth chart and where the horses are positioned,” began Theberge.  “Usually the writing’s on the wall and you just have to read it.  If you’re a late round draft choice, you have to go in there and really open up some eyes and turn some heads.”

Theberge knows that certain players will feel the heat more than others.

“For example, when Paul Reinhart refused to report to training camp in September 1976," recalled Theberge, "I became the Petes’ top draft choice heading into training camp.  I felt a lot of pressure to play to my maximum capability. That’s the kind of pressure Brady Lyle will be feeling, but that can be a good thing too, especially if he has a lot of confidence and shows up in midseason form, mentally and physically prepared to do battle.  If so, young Lyle shouldn’t have any concerns.”

The players drafted in later rounds of the Priority Selection will be facing a different set of hurdles.

 “If you’re a late or mid round draft choice such as Brett, he was an eighth rounder, he had to go in there and battle for a roster spot,” said Theberge.

“And you have to capitalize on your opportunities when given one.   Just because you’re not a high profile pick, doesn’t mean you can’t be waiting in the wings for either an injury to a roster player, or a suspension, or a no-show, or a poorly performing high-round draft pick.  That’s the time a late rounder needs to shine.”

Veteran forward Mike Amadio will be asked to lead the North Bay Battalion in 2015-16

The OHL experience can be awe-inspiring for a 16-year old player fresh out of minor midget.  We’ve all been there: whether it was our first day in high school, or college, or a first day on a new job.

“As a young rookie going into the room, not knowing what to expect, with seasoned veterans in there, it can be really intimidating,” said Theberge.  “First of all, you’re out of your domain.  Sometimes you’re accepted in the group and sometimes you’re not.  Why?  Because you may be trying to take a job away from someone that was there last season, or the season before, and if it’s a tight-knit group of players, sometimes you don’t get that warm welcome.”

The Camp itself will be a grueling test of power and stamina, both physically and psychologically, and will separate the contenders from the pretenders, the players who did the extra sprints and crunches during the summer, from the ones who went through the motions.

“The pace of training camp is very hard there’s no better way to get yourself in shape then playing game situations,” said Theberge.  “You can ride the bike all you want, or you can skate all summer, but nothing compares to playing game situations.  The intra-squad games are the best measuring stick for gauging the talent.”

“And the players know what’s going on.  They see themselves on the depth chart; they’re looking over their shoulder to see who’s coming up, and who might possibly steal their spot.  If you’re gunning for a job, you’re looking to see how you can climb the depth chart.”

Though the writing may be on the wall, the Camp is also an opportunity for players who haven’t been heavily scouted, perhaps hailing from smaller programs, far from the intense scrutiny of a minor midget season played with some of the GTHL powerhouses.

“In Brett’s situation,” recalls Theberge, “I felt he was underrated going into the draft.  Playing away from Toronto, with the North Central Predators, he didn’t play in front of many scouts, and didn’t receive much attention.  For Brett, at his first Pete’s camp, it was all about being recognized and having a chance to prove himself, which he did, and ended up playing four solid years there.”

“So midrounders and late rounders can go in and overachieve, especially if they haven’t been scouted a whole lot, and if that player has the confidence in his own ability, and can outplay some of the marquis draft picks, then Coach Butler will certainly make note of that.”

Overager Mathew Santos is a prime example of a free agent who impressed at Camp, and was signed right away

Brimming with Theberge’s fascinating and insightful perspective on major junior hockey camps, I sought a voice from within the Battalion organization and caught up with Matt Rabideau, the assistant GM of the North Bay Battalion, at his home in Callander…

Ranjan:  Hi Matt.  Before I ask you about Training Camp, fans might not know Matt Rabideau.  Tell us about your journey…

Matt Rabideau:  I was at the OHL offices for seven years prior to joining Brampton.  Coach Butler and I had talked about it in the past, and it was great timing for me.  I had just lost my Mom, and I figured the time was now.  I really wanted to get back with a team; it’s what I’ve always done.  I had been an assistant coach and general manager in the Junior C and Junior B loops back home in Wallaceburg and Petrolia.  

Prior to joining the Battalion when I was at the League office, I had been privy to a little information that Brampton might be moving, but I didn’t think it was going to be three months into the job!  But it was November 2012 when the announcement was made, and I was like Okay Matt, time to get up to North Bay and find some team doctors, dentists and billet families!  We needed to have everything in place for Mini-Camp that first season, having invited all our current players up, as well as all of our draft picks, and we wanted to make sure parents were comfortable that the Battalion organization had everything in place.  Stan and I worked together, and he made a few trips up with me, but with Stan still behind the bench in Brampton, he put his faith in me to do as much as I could.

Ranjan:  What did you know about North Bay?

Matt Rabideau:  I had a couple of buddies, Drake Berehowsky, for example, who played with the Centennials, but other than that I didn’t know much about North Bay, except that it was a great hockey community.  Ironically, when the team left North Bay and moved to Saginaw, I worked with the Spirit for three years as the western area scout.  So I was very familiar with the disappointment that was here.  In a sense, it was a similar situation to the Battalion leaving Brampton, but I was happy to be part of the group to bring OHL hockey back to North Bay.

Ryan Kujawinski was well known to Matt Rabideau long before he became a North Bay Battalion hero

Ranjan:  You’re no stranger to the scouting and development side of the game.  In fact, you were very familiar with both Nick Moutrey and Ryan Kujawinski before they were acquired in a trade…

Matt Rabideau:  When I was at the OHL offices I was fortunate to be the Director of Operations/General Manager of Team Ontario that went to the 2011 Canada Winter Games in Halifax, and Nick Moutrey and Ryan Kujawinski were on the team I had selected.  They were both very special kids, and it was very fortunate to be able to work with them again.  At the trade deadline, these were a couple of guys that Coach Butler really wanted to key in on, and it helped that I knew their backgrounds, their personalities, and their families.  It really worked out for the best and, quite honestly, those two really gave us an opportunity to compete for the Eastern Conference championship.

Ranjan:  This Camp isn’t your first rodeo.  Does each passing Camp become easier for you?

Matt Rabideau:  With experience you become a lot more proactive, and do things ahead of time.  The job is ever-changing, just as the hockey players are ever-changing, and you always have to be prepared for things that just pop up during training camp.  This year, for instance, if we have a couple of guys that come in and make the club right out of training camp, and Coach Butler says Hey, we’re signing this guy, then the billeting and schooling has to be put into place in a very short time.  Prior to Camp, you try to have as much in place as you possibly can, such as the recruiting of billet families, and our tremendous relationship with Chippewa Secondary School, but there are always things that happen suddenly, and you have to react.   

Ranjan:  Did the recent departure of long-time scout Dave Gray create a hole in the organization?

Matt Rabideau:  It’s always a loss when guys leave, when they’ve been with you a long time, because you have that trust and you can count on their work ethic.  But it’s a great opportunity for Dave and we definitely wish him all the best in what will be an increased role in Hamilton.  They’re a team that’s now in the position we were two years ago, going into a new city and wanting to hit the ground running.

Ranjan:  Is the hunt on for his replacement?

Matt Rabideau:  We had actually brought on a scout, Terry Uniac, prior to Dave’s leaving.  Terry came over from the London Knights to help with our junior group and free agents, along with myself, Mark Davis and Danny McIlhone.  We’re always out targeting free agents, watching major midgets,  looking for undrafted players.  This year, we’ll get together at training camp and discuss how to fill the void left by Dave’s departure.  We have six free agents coming to Camp this week, and those are players that have been scouted over the season by myself, Mark, Danny, Terry and Bob Wetick.  On the other hand, some players might have been seen by Coach Butler at his summer skates in Scarborough, or they may be guys we liked in their Priority Selection year, but they weren’t selected in 15 rounds, and you get to see them play a year of junior.  With an invite to Battalion training camp, you might run into another Mathew Santos, like three years ago, and if we can get a free agent each year, then it’s great for the organization.

Ranjan:  Battalion training camp is tomorrow...it sounds like a massive undertaking to organize the returning players, drafted players and free agents, and their parents...what’s involved in getting ready for Camp?

Matt Rabideau:  You have to be very organized and very proactive.  There’s always a lot of follow-up required, and throughout the summer, sometimes, the players’ goals may change so I need to ensure that we follow up with information, and make sure we know who’s going to report to Camp.  

We’re going to have 51 players this year: 5 goaltenders, 16 defensemen and 30 forwards.  We have a host hotel for the players at the Best Western, and the parents are free to obtain their own lodging for the three nights, the Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, and then we have our exit meetings on Saturday.  For the guys that stay, I make sure I find homes for them, and we make sure they’re registered for school, and away we go.

Check it out:  North Bay Battalion Training Camp Schedule

Ranjan:  What’s the set up this year?

Matt Rabideau:  The first day, Wednesday, is fitness testing, and all of our signed players do their physicals with our team doctor that evening.  On Thursday morning both Battalion White and Battalion Green will practice in the morning, followed by an intra-squad game that’s open to the public on Thursday at 4:00PM.  Then on Friday morning, both teams practice again in the morning, followed by another intra-squad game at 4:00PM.  Then on Saturday morning we’ll have our third and final intra-Squad game at 9:00AM, and we have our exit meetings from there.  On Sunday we head over to Sudbury for our first exhibition game, that afternoon at 2:00PM.

The scrimmages are open to the public, and an email has been sent out to the season ticketholders.  Having more fans come out will create an energetic atmosphere and bring the best out of our players.  We encourage our fans to stop by and check out the new faces, as well as the familiar faces like Mike Amadio and Zach Bratina.

Ranjan:  We know some our players are attending pro Camps… 

Matt Rabideau:  Yes, but we’ll have all our guys there, because the players don’t head for pro camps until September 9th or 10th.  So it’s always nice for a veteran player like Miles Liberati, for example, to get an exhibition game under his belt, before he leaves for Pittsburgh.  Among our younger players, Brett McKenzie will be leaving for Chicago, and Riley Bruce is heading to Calgary.

Ranjan:  It was a shocker for Battalion fans that Brett McKenzie wasn’t drafted in June.  Is a free agent invite the next best thing for Brett?

Matt Rabideau:  It’s going to give Brett an opportunity to go into a pro camp and see what he needs to do this season.  We put our faith in Brett and we want him to have a great season, so we want him to come out of the gate fast and hard, and hopefully going to a pro camp will boost his confidence.  Brett has an opportunity to go to Chicago’s main camp and hopefully he can gain some positives out of that, and come back to the Battalion had have a good season. 

Ranjan:  What are the team’s objectives for this Camp?

Matt Rabideau:  The first thing you want to see is improvement.  If it’s guys from last year that had limited ice time, for example, you would hope they would come in bigger, stronger and faster.  For recent draft picks, or players who were at Mini-Camp in May, you want them to come in and show improvement, whether it be their strength, or their physical play, or playing with confidence.  I think consistency is a huge thing at this level.  It’s one thing to get to the OHL, but it’s quite another thing to stay there.  So come into training camp and show the improvement, and then show consistency and show that you’re getting better throughout training camp.  The more times a ‘98 or ‘99 makes the coaching staff look down at their paper and check a name, the better. 

The difference from Mini-Camp is that now these players are up against veteran Battalion players.  You want our older guys to come back and show that they want to be a North Bay Battalion. They should return with a bad taste in their mouth from last season.  They need to be prepared to go, not just for individual success, but team success.  I would also like to see a couple of surprises at a training camp, guys who come in who may not have been on our radar, but suddenly they surprise us.

Centre Zach Poirier, a first round pick in 2014, shown here hoisting the Ivan Hlinka Memorial Cup with Coach Stan Butler, followed a strong Camp with an impressive rookie season

Ranjan:  What is at stake for the returning players?  Do they have anything to prove at Camp?

Matt Rabideau:  They’ll want to show the coaching staff that they’ve improved.  They need to have that bad taste in their mouth from being eliminated by the Oshawa Generals.  They’ve got to bring that emotion back, and it all starts in training camp. 

Ranjan:  What should Battalion fans be evaluating at the free open practices and intra-squad scrimmages?

Matt Rabideau:  From our perspective, we actually have certain expectations of these players, coming in.  You always want to see skill, and hockey sense.  You want to see guys playing hard, even your veterans.  Definitely hard work. Definitely intensity and consistency. You want your veterans to send a message, that they want to be part of this hockey club, whether it be by scoring, playing physical, and going up and down their wing doing their job.  Are they bigger, stronger and faster?  Are they serious about being a North Bay Battalion?  For a defenseman, you want to see them be able to move the puck, and not be afraid to do so.  These are the little things that the coaching staff is going to be looking for throughout the season, and they want to see that in training camp, and they want to see that consistency.

Ranjan:  That kind of describes the Camp that Zach Poirier had last year...

Matt Rabideau:  Last year Zach Poirier would do things with the puck, he would make a big hit, and he was always giving you a reason to look down at your paper, and say Okay, that’s Zach Poirier.  A lot of people weren’t familiar with this kid from Ottawa, unless they had watched him in minor midget.  Last year he showed he has the ability for highlight reel goals, and he shows flashes of what’s to come, and it all starts with a strong Camp.

Hey Battalion fans!  Pre-season OHL hockey is just around the corner!

Sunday September 6 @ 2:00PM:  North Bay Battalion at Sudbury Wolves

Tuesday September 8 @ 7:00PM:  Sudbury Wolves at North Bay Battalion

Hey Battalion fans!  Missed our conversation with Niagara Icedogs assistant GM Joey Burke?

Bluelines June 9, 2015:  Niagara Icedogs poised for big year  http://www.baytoday.ca/content/sports/details.asp?c=79430

Hey Battalion fans!  It's never too late to catch up on your summer reading!

Bluelines August 25, 2015:  New Wolves GM aims to restore pride  http://www.baytoday.ca/content/sports/details.asp?c=82945

Bluelines August 18, 2015:  Catching up with... Mathew Santos  http://www.baytoday.ca/content/sports/details.asp?c=82678

Bluelines August 11, 2015:  Rivalry with Barrie Colts promises to heat up  http://www.baytoday.ca/content/sports/details.asp?c=82384

Bluelines August 4, 2015:  Catching up with... Jake Smith  http://www.baytoday.ca/content/sports/details.asp?c=82189

Bluelines July 28, 2015:   The secret life of goalies  http://www.baytoday.ca/content/sports/details.asp?c=81806