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Battalion look to build off Sunday’s win

Troops looking for more production from players like Brett McKenzie and Adam McMaster
OwenTippett McMaster
Troops' looking for more production from the skilled and speedy Adam McMaster. File photo by Tom Martineau.

The Battalion put an end to a six-game losing streak on Sunday and now the North Bay squad is hoping to get on a roll tonight when they face the Kitchener Rangers. 

The challenge is daunting as the Rangers are ranked #7 overall in the CHL.   The two clubs met in Kitchener earlier this year where the Rangers scored twice in less than 20 seconds early in the first period and held on to beat the Troops 2-1.   

One of those positives was the play of Bradley Chenier, who scored 3 times in Sunday’s 6-5 win over the Wolves in Sudbury.  

“We are really happy Chenier had three goals, I mean Chenier had 70 in junior A two years ago before he came here so he was sitting at three goals and we think he is probably a 20-goal scorer and maybe this game was the breakout he needed for him to be successful,” said Battalion head coach about Chenier who put up those numbers with the NOJHL’s Rayside-Balfour Canadians.  

While Chenier turned a trick, Butler is also hoping for more production from some of his veteran players. 

“It is something we need to have happen,” noting the team’s need for more from Luke Burghardt, Adam McMaster and Brett McKenzie in particular.  

“We have guys, I think Brett McKenzie can score more than he is, hopefully, Burghardt gets going again and obviously Adam McMaster as well. These are three guys that we need, probably three of our top scorers on our team.”

Burghardt, has picked up his game of late, as he is second on the team now with nine goals while McKenzie is tied with Chenier and Cam Dineen for third in goal scoring with six.  

Adam McMaster however, is stuck at only one goal through 23 games.   

Butler noted goalie Christian Propp is five to 12 days away still. The Battalion bench boss is eager to see how the team plays in front of Propp who played only five minutes before going out with a lower-body injury and hasn’t played since.  

“I don’t think its a cure-all. There are other things we need to do too. We can’t lose track of that but it would be nice just to see our team play with him in goal and just to see how we play and respond to that,” said Butler.  

OHL Big Ticket Night 

Meantime, tonight is OHL Big Ticket Night, in support of Special Olympics Ontario. Special Olympic athletes and volunteers will be in attendance, raising funds to support local athletes for the upcoming National Summer Games in 2018. 

There will be a traditional bucket-pass fundraiser during the second period and a game-long silent auction in the North Concourse.  Puck drop is set for 7 p.m.


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Chris Dawson

About the Author: Chris Dawson

Chris Dawson has been with BayToday.ca since 2004. He has provided up-to-the-minute sports coverage and has become a key member of the BayToday news team.
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