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OHL North Bay Battalion

McKenzie's Pair Powers Battalion to Victory

December 10, 2015 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
North Bay Battalion News Release


NORTH BAY, Ont. - Brett McKenzie's second goal of the game, at 17:53 of the third period, was the winner as the North Bay Battalion ended a three-game Ontario Hockey League losing skid with a 4-3 victory Thursday night over the Oshawa Generals.

Steve Harland had one goal and one assist and Mike Amadio also scored for the Battalion, which moved its won-lost-extended record to 13-12-3 for 29 points, fourth in the Central Division. Goaltender Jake Smith faced 16 shots before a crowd of 3,154.

Anthony Cirelli, Domenic Commisso and Kenny Huether each had one goal and one assist for Oshawa. Goaltender Logan Gauthier made 15 saves for the Generals, 11-15-5 for 27 points, fourth in the East Division.

"You have to give Oshawa credit - they worked really hard tonight and had a good effort," said Battalion coach Stan Butler. "Our guys were extremely inconsistent. We didn't compete at the level they did, and that's why the game was as close as it was.

"I'd like to see more consistency in our compete level. That's the one thing that's confusing for us as coaches. We had a really good practice yesterday with a really good pace, and I felt tonight that some of the guys didn't play at that pace in the game."

The Battalion, which trailed 2-1 starting the third period, enjoyed several good scoring chances before Amadio tied it on the power play at 14:14, shoveling home a Mathew Santos feed from the lip of the crease. Kyle Wood drew the second assist on Amadio's team-leading 17th goal of the season.

Harland gave the Troops their first lead at 15:32 as he raced down the right wing and beat Gauthier low to the stick side. Harland's fourth goal was assisted by Mike Baird and Riley Bruce.

McKenzie made it 4-2 with his 14th goal after Jacob Graves made a weak backhanded clearing attempt from the end boards. McKenzie seized the gift and snapped the puck past Gauthier from the deep slot.

Huether responded at 18:32, ripping a shot over Smith's glove from deep in the right-wing circle, and Gauthier left for a sixth skater with 47 seconds left to play, but the Generals were unable to generate another shot.

Cirelli opened the scoring with the man advantage at 5:48 of the first period when he ripped a wrister from the top of the left circle past Smith, who was screened by Joe Manchurek.

McKenzie replied at 15:49, driving to the net and directing Harland's pass from the right-wing corner between Gauthier's pads. Cam Dineen earned the second assist.

The Troops outshot the visitors 8-6 in the frame. Santos lost control of the puck on a dash to the net in the 11th minute, and Gauthier blocked rebound attempts by Daniil Vertiy and Brett Hargrave. Smith denied Alexandre Renaud in the second minute and foiled Manchurek in close with Oshawa on the power play in the final seconds.

Commisso connected at 2:47 of the second period, sweeping a loose puck into an open net with Smith down in the crease.

The Battalion hosts the London Knights at 2 p.m. Sunday.

BATTALION BULLETS: Amadio has a seven-game points streak during which he has five goals and seven assists for 12 points ... The game was the first in a stretch of 21 through Feb. 4 that sees the Battalion at home 14 times ... North Bay went 1-for-2 on the power play. Oshawa was 1-for-3 ... Stephen Templeton left the game after taking a hard check from Santos in the second minute of the middle period ... Opening line combinations included Amadio centring left winger Vertiy and right winger Santos, McKenzie pivoting left winger Baird and right winger Harland and Zach Poirier centring left winger Max Kislinger and right winger Hargrave. Kyle Potts centred left winger Jacob Ball and right winger Justin Brazeau ... The Battalion scratched Jake Ramalho and David Sherman ... Oshawa was without left winger Michael Dal Colle, who's at the Canadian national team's Toronto selection camp for the World Junior Championship that opens Dec. 26 at Helsinki, Finland ... The Battalion will hold a sale of used equipment from 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. Saturday at Gate 4 at the southeast corner of Memorial Gardens near the team's dressing room. Items for sale include pants, gloves, helmets, sticks, goaltending equipment, practice sweaters and track suits. Some new items also will also be available. Prices are about $20 to $100. Sales are cash only.

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