OHL North Bay Battalion

Troops' Comeback Nets Shootout Victory

Published on February 7, 2015 under Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
North Bay Battalion News Release


BELLEVILLE, Ont. - Alex Henriksson celebrated his 20th birthday in style Saturday night. Goaltender Jake Kment celebrated success in his first Ontario Hockey League start.

Mike Amadio and Henriksson, with the deciding goal on a high backhander, scored in a four-round shootout as the North Bay Battalion rallied to defeat the Belleville Bulls 3-2 in a penalty-free game.

Brenden Miller and Mathew Santos scored in regulation time for the Battalion, which trailed 2-0 in the third period. Kment proved up to the challenge in making 21 saves through overtime and denying three more shots in the shootout as North Bay improved its won-lost-extended record to 26-12-10 for 62 points, second in the Central Division.

Brett Gustavsen and Trent Fox scored in the second period for Belleville, 21-23-7 for 49 points, third in the East Division. Goaltender Charlie Graham faced 30 shots through overtime before 2,756 at Yardmen Arena.

The Battalion tested Graham early in the third period, forcing him to come up with solid stops on Ryan Kujawinski, Brett McKenzie and Santos.

Miller cut the deficit to 2-1 at 8:29, stepping into a failed clearing attempt and blasting a shot from the top of the left-wing circle to beat Graham low to the glove side. The unassisted goal was defenceman Miller's 13th of the season.

While the Battalion pressed for the equalizer, Kment produced his biggest save in the 16th minute, sliding to deny Niki Petti's attempt to finish a three-on-one rush at the left post.

Seconds later, Miles Liberati hit the post behind Graham from the left point, and the Troops tied the game at 18:15 when Santos buried a Kyle Wood rebound at the right edge of the crease. The goal, also assisted by Zach Poirier, was Santos's sixth.

The Bulls had the best chance in overtime, but Kment got his glove on an Adam Laishram effort and Adam Bignell failed to put his stick to the rebound.

Kujawinski and Nick Paul missed on the first and third shootout attempts by the Battalion, which shot first. Matt Luff scored for Belleville before Kment denied Michael Cramarossa, Brandon Saigeon and, to seal the win, Stephen Harper.

Gustavsen opened the scoring at 4:40 of the second period on the first shot by either team in the frame. A Cramarossa pass hit Amadio and bounced to Gustavsen, who ripped the rolling disc over Kment's glove from the middle of the slot.

Fox connected at 18:47, hammering a Saigeon feed into the top corner from the left circle.

North Bay had five shots, with Graham turning away Ray Huether's attempt from the slot in the 15th minute and challenging on a Santos shot off the left wing in the 16th. Kment faced six shots, with his biggest stop in the 17th minute when he turned away a Gustavsen drive off a right-wing rush.

The Bulls outshot the Battalion 10-8 in the first period with few solid chances for either side. Kment made two good saves in the 12th minute, stopping a Harper drive from the slot and finding Alex Yuill's shot from the left point through traffic. Liberati was effective in shutting down a Petti breakaway attempt in the final seconds.

The Battalion visits the Ottawa 67's at 2 p.m. Sunday for the second of three straight road dates. The game can be seen live in North Bay on TVCogeco Cable 12 and heard on Country 600 CKAT.

Check out the North Bay Battalion Statistics

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



Ontario Hockey League Stories from February 7, 2015


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