The North Bay Battalion avoided an eighth straight loss by putting up an eight-goal performance Thursday night at Memorial Gardens, defeating the Kitchener Rangers by a score of 8-5.
A loose defensive display by both sides made for a high-scoring, entertaining game with the Troops coming out on top for their first victory since a 5-2 road win at Mississauga on Nov. 23. Justin Brazeau, Daniel Walker and Brad Chenier each scored two goals for the Troops, while Jonathan Yantsis had a hat trick of his own for the Rangers who suffered their third loss in a row.
“It’s been a season, and last month, of coming from behind for us so to say that we’re used to it would be a bit of an understatement.” said assistant coach Adam Dennis.
“It was nice to see us keep pushing and hold onto a lead. I think it was a credit to our group for continuing to push through, continuing to battle regardless of the score.”
The momentum in the game changed a number of times, with Kitchener building a two-goal lead in the first period and closed out the period ahead by a goal. The second period featured a 5:20 stretch where six goals total were scored, including three in a row by the visitors in a span of 90 seconds. Goaltender Christian Propp settled in from there, stopping the final 15 Kitchener shots. Rangers’ netminder Luke Richardson did not play his best game, allowing seven goals in all including a pair of groaners to Chenier.
Nick King played a strong game on the back end for North Bay, sending Brazeau and Walker in on breakaways that were both converted in the third period. Luke Burghardt, playing his first home game since his return to the Battalion lineup last week, played centre on a line with Walker and Patrick Brown. He showed flashes of his dynamic potential with a nice inside-out move in the first period, and scored his first point of the season with a second assist on Brazeau’s tying goal.
“When we got the news that Luke was coming back, we knew that it would give us a lot more depth.” said Dennis.
“Playing centre, he’s going to have the puck a little bit more and that will give him the chance to get more in sync with his game.”
The Battalion plays a home and home series with Barrie this weekend before the Christmas break in the OHL schedule. Sunday’s game at Memorial Gardens will feature the Teddy Bear Toss where fans are encouraged to bring a new stuffed toy to the game to throw onto the ice after the Troops’ first goal. The past four Teddy Bear Tosses have seen hundreds of toys collected and donated to various community groups including the local Children’s Aid Society, North Bay Fire and Emergency Services and the North Bay Regional Health Centre.
