Sports stats

OHL North Bay Battalion

Amadio, Bratina Called to Team OHL Duty

October 21, 2015 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
North Bay Battalion News Release


NORTH BAY, Ont. - Linemates Mike Amadio and Zach Bratina of the North Bay Battalion are among 36 Ontario Hockey League players named to see action in the 2015 Canada Russia Series, it was announced Wednesday.

Team OHL is to face the Russians at Owen Sound on Nov. 12 and at Windsor on Nov. 16 as the middle segment of the six-game Canadian Hockey League series that opens Nov. 9 in the Western Hockey League and ends Nov. 19 in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.

Left winger Bratina is to play at Owen Sound and centre Amadio at Windsor. Only four players are slated to see action in both games.

The series serves as part of Hockey Canada's selection process for the Canadian national junior team at the 2016 World Junior Championship, to be held Dec. 26 to Jan. 5 at Helsinki, Finland.

"It's obviously an unbelievable feeling getting named to that team," said Battalion captain Amadio, 19. "I know it's all the best guys from our league against Russia, so it's going to be a battle for sure."

Bratina, who was named Monday as the OHL Player of the Week for the period ended Sunday, said the Team OHL nod was "a huge honour."

"I hope to play well and, if I do get the recognition for Team Canada, then that will be an amazing accomplishment as well."

Bratina leads the team in scoring with 11 goals and two assists for 13 points in nine games as the Battalion has forged a won-lost-extended record of 5-4-0 for 10 points, tied with the Barrie Colts atop the Central Division.

North Bay acquired Bratina, a Northern Ontario native born in Timmins, from the Saginaw Spirit in a Dec. 27, 2013, trade for left winger Blake Clarke. Saginaw had traded centre Vincent Trocheck to the Plymouth Whalers for Bratina and several OHL Priority Selection picks on Jan. 10, 2013.

"I think the biggest thing for him is he's healthy," noted Stan Butler, Battalion director of hockey operations and head coach, of the 19-year-old Bratina's emergence as an offensive force after playing only 30 games last season, when he was plagued by a concussion.

"He's been in a certain situation for a while. He's got used to the coaches and the players. I think you can see he's got unbelievable skills. He's fit; he's just ready to go."

The OHL rosters were assembled by Dale DeGray, Owen Sound general manager and a member of Hockey Canada's Program of Excellence management group, and Mike Kelly, general manager of the Guelph Storm. They worked in consultation with Ryan Jankowski, Hockey Canada's director of player personnel.

All games in the Canada Russia Series are to be telecast nationally live on Sportsnet and TVA Sports.

In action this week, the Battalion hosts the Windsor Spitfires at 7 p.m. Thursday before visiting the London Knights at 7 p.m. Saturday and the Mississauga Steelheads at 2 p.m. Sunday.

Check out the North Bay Battalion Statistics



Ontario Hockey League Stories from October 21, 2015


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

Other Recent North Bay Battalion Stories



Sports Statistics from the Stats Crew
OurSports Central