Oreskovic returns Wednesday when surging Battalion visits IceDogs
Published on December 5, 2006 under Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
North Bay Battalion News Release
BRAMPTON, Ont. - Phil Oreskovic of the Brampton Battalion can always find a way to be back in the lineup against the Mississauga IceDogs.
Defenceman Oreskovic, who missed the Battalion's last two Ontario Hockey League games with tonsillitis, is expected to return when the Troops visit Mississauga at 7:05 p.m. Wednesday.
Oreskovic sat out two games in late September with an ankle injury but made his return Oct. 5 against the visiting IceDogs in a game that Mississauga won 5-4 in overtime.
"I'm hoping for a big game tomorrow," Oreskovic said Tuesday. "I've had a couple of games off but I'm feeling a lot better. My energy is a lot higher, and I'm ready to go."
Oreskovic, a 19-year-old Brampton resident, said the malady caught him by surprise.
"It was something I couldn't prevent. But I've been getting a lot of rest and preparing myself to be ready."
The Battalion split the two games Oreskovic missed. The Troops carried a 1-0 lead into the third period against the host Barrie Colts on Saturday night before losing 3-2. On Sunday the Battalion held the visiting Peterborough Petes to 20 shots and won 5-3.
"The guys on defence did a tremendous job," said Oreskovic. "They kept the shot totals down and came together really well. We're definitely catching our stride. Hopefully we can keep the momentum up."
The Battalion and IceDogs have met three times this season. In addition to the Oct. 5 game, Mississauga posted a 4-2 home-ice victory Oct. 27, but the visiting Troops won 3-2 on Nov. 17. The Battalion has won five of its last six games to move into fourth place in the Central Division.
"We're playing better now, but I still think we can do more," said Battalion coach Stan Butler. "We're not out of the woods yet. We have to keep working hard.
"Mississauga's a veteran team. They made some trades at the trade deadline last January to get better this season and they've worked out pretty well."
The Battalion hasn't played a Wednesday night regular-season road game since a 1-1 tie with the Belleville Bulls on Dec. 10, 2003, but Butler didn't think the scheduling will present a problem.
"It's not an issue. It's not like we have to travel very far. Right now we have six games to go before our Christmas break and we have to play as well as we can in those games."
Fans in the Brampton area can see the game live on Rogers Cable 10.
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