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By Matthew Sookram
Justin Brazeau, Adam McMaster, Brad Chenier, and Christian Propp did everything they could do to make sure the North Bay Battalion were not the first team this season to let a zero in the win column turn into a number one for the Flint Firebirds.
Despite a strong effort and, for the majority of the game, control of the puck, the Firebirds could never take the lead in a 5-3 loss. It was their eighth straight to start the season.
Brazeau and McMaster had two goals each, while Propp made 35 saves in net to lead the Troops, who improve their record to 3-5-0 on the young season.
Despite the win, acting Head Coach Adam Dennis says overall he was not impressed with teams efforts for most of the night.
“To be honest, I really didn’t like our first two periods, I thought that we were playing a little bit too individual," stated Dennis.
"We were not doing the things we needed to be doing to be successful. I thought (The Firebirds) came out looking possessed.”
Losing seven straight games to start the season is certainly enough to warrant any team looking for any kind of opening to get that monkey off its back and finally get a win under its belt.
The Firebirds created many opportunities for themselves, evident by the fact they outshot the Troops 15-6 after 20 minutes.
But Brazeau scored his sixth goal of the season just 4:13 into the game, and after Ty Deallandrea (2) tied the game 42 seconds into the second period, Brazeau lit the lamp again at 6:17 on the power play. The Troops captain now has seven goals and 14 points through the first eight games of the season.
Brazeau talked about his scoring output after the game.
“I’m just trying to build off what I did last year, coming into the year with a little more confidence," he said.
"I’m just trying to get shots on net and see what happens and good things are happening right now.”
Hunter Holmes (2) tied the game at 11:31 of the second, but the Troops regained their one-goal lead before the end of the period when Brazeau set up McMaster for his third of the season and a 3-2 Battalion lead.
North Bay held one-goal leads four times throughout the night but was largely outplayed by an extremely motivated Firebirds squad, who were without Head Coach Ryan Oulahen. The former Assistant Coach of the North Bay Battalion had informed the Firebirds organization that he would be stepping down from his role effective immediately. In a tweet sent out by the organization, Oulahen says “I have decided to step down as Head Coach of the Flint Firebirds for personal reasons and my family.”
See: Ryan Oulahen steps down as Flint Firebirds head coach
General Manager Barclay Branch spoke to media ahead of Friday nights game at the Dort Federal Event Centre.
“We wish him the best in his future endeavours," stated Branch.
"It is unfortunate but we will get through it. The health and well-being of family is most important at this time.”
Branch says Oulahen notified the team early Friday morning and the staff, players, families, and billets were all notified of the change.
Assistant Coach Greg Stefan stepped into the Head Coaching role for the game. Branch says he will remain there for the weekend and he expects to name a replacement very soon, but added Stefan could take over the role full time.
“At this point we are not ruling anything out and not closing any doors,” said Branch.
The Battalion was also without its head coach as Stan Butler remains on medical leave for the time being, with Dennis and Scott Wray continuing to share the head coaching duties.
One of those duties for Wray is running the power play and after Eric Uba (2) tied the game at three near the midway point of the third, the Troops PP Unit went to work. For the second time in the game, McMaster came into the offensive zone on the right wing, ripped a shot and sent the puck over the shoulder of Firebirds goaltender Emanuel Vella. It was the second of three power play goals on eight chances on the night for the Troops who own the leagues best power play, converting on 33.3 per cent of their chances (10 for 30). Dennis touched on the success North Bay has had on the man advantage
“It’s something that’s really come together, Scott Wray has done a lot of hard work on it and you have to give credit where credit is due,” said Dennis.
He also gave some credit to McMaster for his two-goal night.
“I thought Adam’s year has gone a lot better this year, he’s shooting the puck," said Dennis.
"He’s going to the hard areas a little bit more than he has in the past and, you know that secondary scoring is going to be key for us down the stretch.”
Chenier entered the game as the third highest scorer on the team, and he added a goal and two assists, including the insurance marker, giving him nine points on the year.
Newcomer Theo Calvas played his first game, getting plenty of ice time on the back end.
Despite not getting on the score sheet, Brazeau had lots of praise for his fellow overager.
“He makes our D-Core a little older, we’re pretty young to start," Brazeau said about Calvas.
"He’s a big guy, you can definitely notice him out there, he was solid tonight, he makes good plays and he’s tough to play against.”
The Saginaw Spirit have been tough to play against for any opponent as they have started with a 4-2-1 record this season. North Bay will look to make it two in a row when they visit the Spirit on Saturday night.
