OHL North Bay Battalion

Battalion, IceDogs to renew hostilities

Published on November 26, 2008 under Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
North Bay Battalion News Release


BRAMPTON, Ont. - The Brampton Battalion hasn't played the Niagara IceDogs in two months, but the quirks of the Ontario Hockey League schedule see the Central Division rivals meeting twice in the next four days.

The Battalion puts a club-record 16-game winning streak on the line at St. Catharines at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, and Niagara visits Brampton at 2 p.m. Sunday. Between those games, the Troops face the host Kingston Frontenacs at 7:30 p.m. Friday.

"We're prepared for them," Thomas Stajan said Wednesday of the IceDogs. "We've had a good week of practice. We can't take anyone lightly. We need to have the same work ethic every night."

When the Battalion and IceDogs met at Niagara on Sept. 27, the hosts prevailed 4-2. The Troops fired 44 shots at IceDogs goaltender John Cullen, including a season-high 22 in the second period.

"We've really grown over the past games," said Stajan, 19. "We feel like a whole new team. Our goaltending has come around, and our confidence has really grown with these wins. I think we'll still be getting shots against the IceDogs, and hopefully this time they'll be going in."

Niagara, which has won its last two games, is second in the division with a won-lost-extended record of 10-9-8 for 28 points. The first-place Battalion, on a winning streak that's tied for fourth-longest in OHL history, is 18-6-0 for 36 points.

"We have to keep our focus and avoid falling behind," said Stajan. "We have to remember to play well right from the start of the game. We can't be falling behind and trying to catch up, which we've done recently."

Stajan was back at centre in a 3-1 victory Sunday over the visiting Sudbury Wolves after having played 10 games at left wing on a line with centre Cody Hodgson and right winger Jason Dale. Stajan returned to the middle in the absence of Matt Duchene, who suffered an upper-body injury in a 5-4 road win over the Ottawa 67's last Friday night.

"It was great playing with Cody," said Stajan. "He's a great playmaker and goal scorer."

Stajan, who had played centre his entire career, said it took time to adjust to left wing.

"It was new for me. It's different, because you're constantly moving as a centre and you always have a lot of momentum. On the wing, sometimes you can catch yourself being still, and you need to really accelerate. That's something I have to work on."

Stajan has six goals and seven assists for 13 points in 24 games in his second full season with the Battalion. He's gone six games without a goal.

"I'm not worried about it," said Stajan, acquired from the Owen Sound Attack on Jan. 9, 2007. "The goals will come. I've been through this before. But I'm getting points. I can always improve my game, and if I'm playing well defensively I'm happy. I don't want to be hurting the team."

Fans in the Brampton area can see the game at Niagara live on Rogers Cable 10.

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Ontario Hockey League Stories from November 26, 2008


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