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OHL North Bay Battalion

67's Numbered Among Elite

October 11, 2023 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
North Bay Battalion News Release


NORTH BAY, Ont. - The North Bay Battalion plays host to a familiar foe in the Ottawa 67's in Ontario Hockey League action at 7 p.m. Thursday.

North Bay spent last season chasing Ottawa for top spot in the league, ultimately ceding the Hamilton Spectator Trophy for the first overall finish while compiling the OHL's second-best mark, a franchise-record won-lost-extended log of 48-17-3 for 99 points.

This season, the Battalion is 3-1-2 for eight points, tied with the Mississauga Steelheads atop the Central Division. Ottawa is 1-2-0 for two points, tied for fourth place in the East Division with the Brantford Bulldogs.

"They're probably not off to the start that they would have expected or really liked, so they're going to come in here hungry," Battalion coach Ryan Oulahen said Wednesday of the 67's.

"They're going to be a really good team in the Eastern Conference this year. We've got a ton of respect for them, and we've got to be ready."

After a split of two exhibition games, it's the first of six season meetings, increased from four by virtue of the Bulldogs' move from Hamilton and Ottawa dropping two of six games against Brantford. The Battalion, which drops two meetings with the Oshawa Generals, to be made up by the Bulldogs, makes its sole visit of the season to Oshawa at 6:05 p.m. Sunday to complete the week.

The Troops have won their last two games, defeating the Owen Sound Attack 3-1 Monday in the traditional Thanksgiving Day home date after downing the host London Knights 4-1 Friday night to end a two-game western swing. The Windsor Spitfires prevailed 5-4 in overtime Thursday night.

"We have to compete like that night in and night out," Oulahen, whose Battalion this week entered the Canadian Hockey League's Top-10 ranking at No. 10, said of the effort against Owen Sound.

"It's kind of been our DNA, and I know our scouting staff has just added and brought in those types of people. When you look at the metrics we're able to see, we are leading in those numbers, which is nice, loose-puck battles and compete and things like that. That has to remain a constant for us and a strength."

Goaltender Dom DiVincentiis, who stopped 57 of 59 shots against London and Owen Sound, has been the rock behind a solid defence corps critical to Battalion success.

"We're a little bit different this year," acknowledged Oulahen. "That is by far our biggest strength, our DNA, the back end out. That's kind of how we're built.

"It's nice having some veterans guys back there that can log minutes in all different situations, and they are sort of trained, so to speak, in terms of the way we want to play. We look very organized right now. Again, it has to continue, and we actually have to get better at it as we continue to grow."

At the same time, the Troops have worked at practice to increase scoring.

"We think we're sound defensively. If we relieve a little bit more pressure by providing a little bit more offence, a little bit more sustained o-zone time, high-danger chances, those types of things are the areas we want to improve in."

Right winger Anthony Romani leads the club in goals with three and, with three assists, is tied for the points lead with centre Dalyn Wakely and left winger Owen Van Steensel, each of whom has two goals and four assists for six points. Left winger Justin Ertel has two goals and two assists for four points. All have played six games.

Ottawa's points leader is left winger Chris Barlas, who has four, from one goal and three assists in three games.

The game will be played on YMCA Fill The Bus Charity Night, a fundraiser to help families with the cost of sending a child to a week at day camp. Donations can be made at a table in the concourse, and volunteers will take collections during stoppages in play.

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