The North Bay Battalion showed some speed and skill as they ousted the visiting Owen Sound Attack 7-4 in the high scoring affair at Memorial Gardens in pre-season OHL action Saturday afternoon at Memorial Gardens.
Matthew Struthers led the offence with three goals while Brandon Coe netted a pair including an impressive highlight reel worthy second period marker.
Early on, Owen Sound scored on a rebound past Christian Propp less than 7 minutes in which made it 1-0 Attack.
The Battalion replied on the very next shift at Brandon Coe slipped a shot through the legs of Andrew MacLean to even things 1-1 less than 40 seconds later.
Justin Brazeau, back from the San Jose Sharks main camp, gave the Troops a 2-1 lead as he took a stretch pass in and went upstairs on MacLean for a 2-1 lead.
Jackson Dougherty got a breakaway near16-minuteinute mark but Propp was able to make a stick save. However, Pacey Schlueting was called for a slash on the play.
In the second period, the Battalion offence got going.
Matthew Struthers shot went off an Attack defender and past MacLean which made it 3-1 Troops at 10:23.
Not long after, Matthew Struthers made it 4-1 on a rebound beating Nathan Torchia who replaced MacLean midway through the second.
The Battalion offence continued to roll as shortly after that Brandon Coe made a nifty between the legs more and fooled Torchia on the nifty backhand goal which made it 5-1 Troops.
Then it was Bradley Chenier who got behind the Attack defence and went five-hole on Torchia which made it 6-1.
The Attack cut into the lead on the power play as Daylon Groulx went upstairs on Propp which made it 6-2 just over 4 minutes into the third.
The goal created some more momentum as Cade Robinson scored on another power play for the Attack to make is 6-3, and then just over a minute later Robinson netted his second of the afternoon which made it only 6-4.
However, Matthew Struthers completed his hat trick with a goal at 16:34 to secure the win.
The Battalion finish off the pre-season on Sunday with a trip to Owen Sound. The Battalion home opener takes place on Friday, September 21st when the defending OHL champion Hamilton Bulldogs come to town.
