OHL North Bay Battalion

Bruce Gets 10 Games Before Erie Visit

Published on January 6, 2016 under Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
North Bay Battalion News Release


NORTH BAY, Ont. - With the league-leading Erie Otters visiting at 7 p.m. Thursday, it's not the best time for the North Bay Battalion to be down five Ontario Hockey League regulars, but that's the case.

Defenceman Riley Bruce is suspended for 10 games, left winger Mike Baird for three and forwards Zach Poirier and Brett Hargrave for two apiece. In addition, defenceman Zach Shankar is sidelined with an ankle injury.

Coach Stan Butler was informed by the league office Tuesday of the length of Bruce's suspension, for what's purported to have been a check to the head of Owen Tippett of the Mississauga Steelheads in a 6-3 home-ice victory by the Battalion last Thursday. Bruce is eligible to return Jan. 24 against the visiting Kingston Frontenacs.

"I'm really disappointed in the decision," Butler said Wednesday. "I respect the process, and they do a really good job at what they do, but let's just say in this situation that, you know, I think I saw things a little bit differently than they did. But maybe they have different angles and views that I don't have on my computer."

Whether or not that's the case, the league's interpretation is at odds with that of numerous others, including incredulous fans and reporters in attendance as well as television viewers replaying what's overwhelmingly been regarded as a clean check.

Baird has two games left to serve after receiving a match penalty for spearing in a 12-2 road loss Saturday night to the Barrie Colts, while centre Poirier and right winger Hargrave, suspended for fights at Barrie, will complete their sentences with the Erie game.

Shankar suffered the ankle injury at Barrie before the Battalion gained a measure of revenge with a 5-3 home-ice decision over the Colts on Sunday.

North Bay, which visits the Sudbury Wolves on Friday night and hosts the Ottawa 67's on Sunday, has a won-lost-extended record of 19-14-3 for 41 points, tied with the Niagara IceDogs for third place in the Central Division of the Eastern Conference before Niagara's visit to the Hamilton Bulldogs on Wednesday night.

Erie, meanwhile, is 32-4-1 for 65 points atop the league and the Midwest Division of the Western Conference.

Butler, who acknowledged that the Troops are in tough against the Otters, vowed that his charges will put forth a quality effort.

"It means lots of ice time for a lot of the guys here," noted Butler, who added: "I tell them we've got to play with the guys we have, and I think the guys have got to look at it as, for the guys who are playing, it's a big opportunity, and they've got to take advantage of it."

But he said he didn't know what help might be available from the affiliated Powassan Voodoos of the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League.

"They've got a really tough week. I think they play four games in six days, so I'm hoping that maybe we can get at least a couple of forwards up from them to make our bench look a little bit bigger."

The Voodoos in fact are in the process of playing four games in seven days, having played Monday night and being scheduled Wednesday night before games Saturday night and Sunday.

Right winger Aaron Dart, a North Bay native playing his second season with Powassan, made his OHL debut against Barrie, scoring the early second-period goal that ignited a rally from a 2-0 deficit in the redemptive victory.

"Especially when we got down two goals, it would have been really easy for them to quit," said Butler. "To their credit, they didn't do that, and they just kept going and they found a way to win the game. That's why this group is kind of an interesting group. Just when you think they're down and out, they always seem to find a way to get the job done."

That said, Butler allowed that, with the trade deadline looming at noon Monday, his phone has been ringing.

"If people ask me what we're doing, we're listening. As always with me, if there's a deal that will help today and tomorrow and maybe for the future and I think will benefit our hockey club, then obviously I will exercise that and make it. More like the American dollar and not the Canadian dollar: We want full value for whatever we do."

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Ontario Hockey League Stories from January 6, 2016


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