The North Bay Battalion fell behind early and could not come back as they fell 4-1 at the hands of the Owen Sound Attack in OHL preseason action Saturday afternoon in Owen Sound.
Sam Ethier and Jake Crawford scored goals less than 4 minutes into the game to stake the Attack to an early 2-0 lead.
Landon Hookey netted his second pre-season tally in the late stages of the first to give the Attack the 3-0 lead after one period of play.
Martin Matejicek made if 4-0 at 1:32 of the second period for the home Attack.
The Troops finally solved Carter George in the final minute of the second period as Anthony Romani broke the shutout bid which made it 4-1 after two periods of play.
The two sides went scoreless in the final frame as the game finished 4-1.
Charlie Robertson, fresh off a return from Florida Panthers camp, suffered the loss allowing four goals on 25 shots in 40 minutes of work. Mike McIvor made 10 saves in relief in the final period of play.
Battalion 2023 first round import selection Iggy Pazii, made his pre season debut for the Troops.
The Battalion was still missing some key players who remain at NHL camps or out of the lineup including Dom DiVincentiis, Ty Nelson, Tnias Mathurin, Justin Ertel, Pasquale Zito, and Liam Arnsby,
Dalyn Wakely, who was at Canucks camp, and Romani, who attended Carolina Hurricanes camp, were back in the lineup Saturday.
The Battalion open the regular season on the road Thursday, Sept. 28 as they travel to Barrie to face Connor Punnett and the Colts.
The Colts follow the Troops up north for the Battalion home opener on Friday, Sept. 29 at North Bay Memorial Gardens. Puck drop is 7 p.m.
