OHL North Bay Battalion

Third consecutive win increases Battalion lead atop OHL's Eastern Conference

Published on October 31, 2004 under Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
North Bay Battalion News Release


BRAMPTON, Ont. – Rookie J.F. Houle scored two goals as the Battalion extended its Ontario Hockey League winning streak to three games with a 4-1 victory over the Plymouth Whalers on Sunday.

Ryan Oulahen, with the winner in a third consecutive game, had a shorthanded goal and one assist, and Wojtek Wolski scored the other goal for the Battalion, which improved its won-lost-tied record to 10-5-2, good for 22 points and top spot in the Central Division and Eastern Conference. Goaltender Kevin Couture made 19 saves to earn his fifth win of the season.

Vaclav Meidl scored the lone goal for the Whalers, who fell to 6-9-1, including two overtime losses, in the West Division. Justin Garay faced 31 shots in the Plymouth net.

"I thought we played a very good defensive game today," said Battalion coach Stan Butler. "Outside of their power-play shots they didn't generate a lot of offence, and they have some pretty talented players."

The Troops owned a territorial advantage and outshot Plymouth 9-3 in a scoreless first period. Garay made the best save in the 16th minute, using his right pad to deny Howie Martin from the deep slot.

Houle opened the scoring at 9:20 of the second period. John Seymour attempted to beat Garay with a wraparound to the stick side before Houle backhanded the rebound under the goaltender's left pad.

The Whalers tied the game on the power play with their first shot of the period at 11:12. With the Battalion's Martin Lojek off for tripping, Meidl tipped home a pass from Michael Knight.

With the game still tied, Couture made a pair of fine saves with the Troops shorthanded, stoning Tim Sestito with his right pad in the 15th minute and sprawling to stop a Dan Collins shot from the lip of the crease with at 17:41.

Oulahen restored the Battalion's lead with a shorthanded goal at 18:48. Oulahen rushed from his own end, cruised through the high slot and snapped a wrist shot between Knight's legs and over Garay's left shoulder for his club-leading 11th goal of the season.

Houle's third goal of the season gave the Troops a 3-1 lead at 6:15 of the third period after Graham McNabb, who made his OHL debut in the game, passed the puck to Houle deep in the left-wing circle. Garay came out and pokechecked the puck, but it hit a defender and slid into the open net.

The Battalion was enjoying a two-man advantage when Wolski made it 4-1 at 11:34, hammering a shot over Garay's right shoulder. Wolski missed another goal when he was foiled by Garay on a breakaway in the 14th minute.

Phil Oreskovic, Aaron Snow, Scott Boomsma and Jason Cassidy were scatched for the Battalion. Defenceman Oreskovic suffered a cut foot in an accident at home Saturday.

Erik Lundmark, John Armstrong and Zack Shepley were scratched for Plymouth.

The Battalion is idle until visiting the Kingston Frontenacs at 7:30 p.m. Friday.

BATTALION NOTEBOOK: Attendance was 1,590 ... Rookie right winger Luch Aquino left the ice on a stretcher as a precautionary measure after going head-first into the end boards in the third period. He left the arena under his own power ... Wolski's goal extended his points streak to seven games. Wolski has a goal and eight assists for nine points in that span ... Oulahen, who scored the winning goal on the road against the Toronto St. Michael's Majors on Friday night and the Windsor Spitfires on Saturday, has scored both Battalion shorthanded goals this season ... Left winger McNabb, a sixth-round pick in the 2003 OHL Priority Selection, has three goals and two assists for five points in 11 games this season with the Bramalea Blues of the Provincial Junior A League. McNabb skated with centre Seymour and right winger Houle. "I thought they had a great game and worked really hard," said Butler. "They had two even-strength goals, and you can't ask for much more from your fourth line. They even had a few more chances, too. I was really happy for Graham today. He's been a real trooper, and we've always believed in him." ... Plymouth is winless in nine games, including two overtime losses, on the road this season ... The game was the third Hallowe'en contest in Battalion history and the first since 1999, when the Troops lost 1-0 in overtime on the road to the North Bay Centennials. In 1998, the Battalion dropped a 7-2 decision at Plymouth ... The Battalion visits Plymouth on Dec. 28.

Check out the North Bay Battalion Statistics

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



Ontario Hockey League Stories from October 31, 2004


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.

OurSports Central