By Kortney Kenney
After seeing their 6 game win streak end last night in Sudbury, the North Bay Battalion came into Sunday’s tilt with the Saginaw Spirit looking to start another streak, and each streak starts with one, as the Troops held off the Spirit 4-3 in overtime.
Even though the Spirit (23-17-4) is based out of Saginaw Michigan, this game had a northern flavour to it, with both teams boasting some of Northern Ontario’s best hockey players.
The game started fairly even between both teams, with chances coming from both sides. The first great chance for North Bay (20-20-5-1) came shorthanded as Justin Brazeau went in on a breakaway on Saginaw’s goaltender Evan Cormier.
Cormier of course is a familiar name to Battalion fans, as he is a former All-Star of the North Bay Trappers of the NOJHL, and served as Jake Smith’s backup for the Troops before being dealt to the Spirit for Nick Moutrey in the second year the team was based out of North Bay.
Later in the first, Saginaw would go up 1-0 off of Danny Katic’s 4th goal of the season.
Early on in the second, Brandon Coe would block a pass which would spring him and Brad Chenier on a two on one, resulting in Chenier burying the puck in the back of the net to tie the game at 1. The goal was Chenier’s second in as many games.
Shortly after that, Riley Bruce would take a high sticking penalty, one that coach Stan Butler argued from the bench, which would draw a bench minor for his efforts. The ensuing 5 on 3 penalty kill saw plenty of heroics from the Battalion, especially Jesse Saban who played the full 2 minutes and blocked plenty of shots which drew praise from his head coach.
“Anytime those guys bail out their coach, it gets brownie points in my eyes” Stan Butler would say after the game.
After killing off the penalties, Adam McMaster would tap in his 7th to stay hot in this recent stretch, North Bay led 2-1.
Not to be outdone on the period, Saginaw tied it up with Jake Goldowski scoring late in the second.
The Spirit would have momentum for the early part of the third period which would result in Max Grondin scoring to put Saginaw ahead 3-2. The goal was the 7th of the year for the former North Bay Trappers bantam player.
Midway through the frame, North Bay would get a man advantage, and Adam Thilander who is putting together a great season would tie the game up with his 5th.
A game like this wouldn’t be complete without overtime however, but it would not last long as Adam McMaster would put it away for North Bay a minute into the extra frame.
Catching up with McMaster after the game, talked through his goal. “I saw (Adam) Thilander pick off the pass and threw it up to me, I was able to kick it up to my stick and get it over his glove. We knew coming into the third that we needed this one bad and we came out with two points. We just need to keep playing Battalion hockey.”
After the game Stan Butler was pleased with his team's efforts, but cautioned a better work ethic.
“We’re getting better, and I thought we working the last half of the game really hard, but there were times I felt they dictated the work ethic and Saginaw is a hard-working team," he stated.
"Hopefully we are learning, last night was right down to the last two minutes and we got outworked on the winning goal. It’s a given in this league that you need to work right from the drop of the puck.”
The Battalion are next in action Friday when they take the road to Ottawa to take on the 67’s.
