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Captain is back as Troops entertain Rangers

Battalion expected to have their full roster arsenal in place.
rileybruceflames
Battalion defenceman Riley Bruce (far right) signing autographs at Calgary Flames camp earlier this week. Photo courtesy Instagram.

New Battalion captain Riley Bruce will be in the lineup tonight when the North Bay Battalion take on the Kitchener Rangers at Memorial Gardens. 

The physical defenceman was just let go from the Calgary Flames main camp earlier this week.  

“Thanks to the Flames for an amazing experience in Calgary and Penticton. Excited to get the season going back in the Bay,” stated Bruce on his Instagram and Twitter account which was accompanied by a photo Riley taking part in a Calgary Flames autograph session.   

The Troops are hoping for a much better effort than last Friday when they dropped a 3-1 decision to the Niagara IceDogs in what Stan Butler felt was a poor display of effort for a home opener.  

Centre Brett McKenzie and right winger Justin Brazeau, both of whom were among four regulars who missed the opener, have returned from National Hockey League camps with the Vancouver Canucks and Detroit Red Wings respectively.  

Those two forwards should enhance the offence which struggled with only one goal for which was tallied by rookie Brad Chenier.  

Defenceman Cam Dineen is also expected to make his regular season debut as he has also been sent back to the Battalion from Arizona Coyotes main camp.  

Butler believes the Troops face a difficult mission in the early going, including against the Rangers, who defeated the visiting Flint Firebirds 4-2 last Friday night in their only game to this point.

“They’re a really good team, and we knew, looking at our schedule to start the season, that it wasn’t really favourable. The first 10 or 12 games are not kind of how you’d like to start the season, but you can’t control that. We’re in tough in the first few games, and our guys have got to realize that because, if not, we’re going to dig ourselves a big hole that we’re not going to get out of.”

Puck drop is set for 7 p.m. at Memorial Gardens.  

 


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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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