OHL North Bay Battalion

Opposing goalie may be familiar

November 30, 2005 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
North Bay Battalion News Release


BRAMPTON, Ont. - The Brampton Battalion likely will see a familiar figure in the enemy crease when it visits the revamped Oshawa Generals in Ontario Hockey League action Thursday night.

Kevin Couture, traded to Oshawa on Oct. 10 for a fifth-round pick in the 2006 OHL Priority Selection, has been handed the No. 1 goaltending job with the Generals, posting a won-lost record of 3-11 with a 4.66 goals-against average and an .867 save percentage in 17 appearances.

"Kevin was a good goalie for us here for three years," Battalion coach Stan Butler said Wednesday.

"He did everything he could for us, but he got caught in a numbers game since we can dress only three overagers, and with a 19-year-old guy like Daren Machesney back in goal we felt we had to use an overage spot on another skater."

The Battalion took Couture in the eighth round of the 2001 OHL Priority Selection from the Mississauga Reps bantams. He appeared in 103 regular-season games with the Troops, compiling a won-lost-tied record of 42-39-14 with four shutouts, a 2.89 goals-against average and a .911 save percentage.

He also produced five wins in 14 career playoff appearances, starring in a seven-game series victory over the Ottawa 67's in a 2003-04 Eastern Conference quarterfinal.

"He won a lot of big games for us, especially in Game 7 of the playoffs against Ottawa," said Butler. "My memories of him here are very positive."

Overage defenceman Nick Duff played in front of Couture, whose backup with Oshawa is Carlo DiRienzo, for the better part of two seasons.

"He was probably one of the most consistent goalies I've ever been around," said Duff.

"He was pretty steady, and you knew what you'd get every night. You could just worry about playing your own game. I always liked him as a player and a person. It'll be fun to play against him, but you can't have any friends on the ice."

Centre Howie Martin faced Couture in practice for two seasons.

"I know he'll bring his best game tomorrow and we'll need to do the same," said Martin. "If we get to a shootout, I might have to change up my move."

Facing Oshawa for the first time this season, the Battalion, fourth in the Central Division with a won-lost record of 13-12, has lost its last two games.

"What we have to do is become a more consistent team," said Butler. "We've been up and down this year, and our record shows it. With 43 games to go, we have to find a way to do that sooner rather than later."

Said Duff: "We have to start playing an entire 60 minutes, not 20 or 40, if we're going to have success. We need to be ready to play, both mentally and physically, and we can't afford to take any shifts off."

Oshawa is last in the East Division and Eastern Conference with a won-lost-extended record of 5-19-1. But the Generals, four of whose wins have come at home, are sixth in the conference in scoring with 92 goals, and centre Peter Tsimikalis ranks ninth in the OHL with 42 points, including 15 goals.

In a trade Wednesday, Oshawa got younger by acquiring right winger Brett MacLean and defenceman Eric Regan, as well as second-round OHL Priority Selection picks in 2006 and 2007, from the Erie Otters for left winger Adam Berti and defenceman Bret Nasby, both 19.

Game time is 7:05 p.m. Fans in the Brampton area can see the game live on Rogers Cable 10, with an audio simulcast available on battalionhockey.com.

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