OHL North Bay Battalion

Troops Trump Knights

Published on December 20, 2019 under Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
North Bay Battalion News Release


NORTH BAY, Ont. - Brandon Coe and Brad Chenier each scored two goals and added an assist to power the North Bay Battalion to a 7-4 victory Thursday night over the London Knights in the Troops' last game before the Ontario Hockey League's Christmas break.

Mitchell Russell had one goal and two assists and Paul Christopoulos and Mason Primeau also scored for North Bay, which moved its won-lost-extended record to 7-25-0 for 14 points, fifth and last in the Central Division. Goaltender Joe Vrbetic starred in facing 38 shots, including a penalty shot, as the Battalion won for the first time in 19 games in which the opposition scored first.

Nathan Dunkley scored two goals and Jonathan Gruden and Avery Winslow each had one for London, 18-11-2 for 38 points, tied with the Kitchener Rangers for second place in the Midwest Division. Starting goaltender Dylan Myskiw allowed five goals on 18 shots before being relieved by Brett Brochu, who stopped all 16 shots he faced.

The Knights, who had assistant Dylan Hunter running the bench with head coach Dale Hunter away with Canada's national junior team, have lost their last four games since defeating the host Guelph Storm 3-1 on Dec. 8.

"We came out a little bit tentative, maybe a little bit nervous," said interim coach Ryan Oulahen, whose Battalion scored two empty-net goals. "They got the first one, and that settled us down. We got one quickly back and once the teddy bears started going, I really liked our game.

"We did a good job on the forecheck, and that seemed to generate offence for us. When you play the Knights and can beat them in special teams battles, you're going to fare pretty well. We capitalized on our chances and kept them off the board on the penalty kill."

Gruden opened the scoring at 1:45 of the first period. Josh Nelson seized a turnover and sent the puck toward the net, where Gruden tipped it over Vrbetic's blocker.

The Troops replied on the power play at 4:45. Nick Grima directed the puck from inside the blue line past the left post, where it was corralled by Coe, who banked it off Myskiw from behind the goal line. Chenier earned the second assist on the goal, which brought a torrent of stuffed toys from the crowd of 1,888.

Chenier was credited with North Bay's second goal, on the power play at 16:32, spinning in the left-wing circle and firing a shot that appeared to hit Coe in front.

Vrbetic faced 16 shots, including tough chances in the first minute from Matvey Guskov and Billy Moskal. Vrbetic foiled Guskov from deep in the right circle with London on the power play in the 18th minute.

The Troops scored three straight goals in the middle period, sparked by defenceman Christopoulos, who connected at 1:33 from the top of the right circle. Russell struck at 11:35, cutting off the right wing to the net to beat Myskiw high to the stick side.

The Battalion ended Myskiw's night on the power play at 12:59, when Coe tipped Russell's drive from the left point past the goaltender from the lip of the crease. Grima also assisted on Coe's 11th goal of the season, which gave North Bay a 5-1 lead and proved to be the winner.

London responded at 13:27 as Dunkley rushed to the net and converted a pass from Max McCue.

London threatened with two goals 36 seconds apart early in the third period. Defenceman Winslow beat Vrbetic to the glove side from the left circle at 1:17 before Dunkley swept home the rebound of a Nelson shot, cutting the Knights' deficit to 5-4.

London's best chance to tie it came at 7:45, when Grima slashed penalty killer Cole Tymkin on a break to the net, resulting in referee Ben Wilson awarding a penalty shot. Tymkin tried to beat Vrbetic with a close-range backhander, but the goaltender countered with a poke check.

"Vrbetic was outstanding," said Oulahen. "To be a really good goalie, you have to make the big saves at the right time. He showed a lot of maturity on the penalty shot that could have been a big turning point in the game. He seemed very confident and handled that situation like a pro."

Brochu was on the bench for a sixth skater when Chenier scored his team-leading 16th goal from a sharp angle into the vacant net at 18:43 and, with Harrison Caines off for tripping, Primeau added a shorthanded empty-netter at 19:41.

The Battalion returns to action when it visits the Hamilton Bulldogs on Saturday, Dec. 28. The 4 p.m. start can be seen live in North Bay on YourTV Channels 12 and 700 and heard on Country 600 CKAT.

BATTALION BULLETS: A total of 660 plush toys were collected in the Teddy Bear Toss, presented by Rogers Radio, comprising KiSS 100.5, 101.9 Rock and Country 600 CKAT. Giant Tiger provided stuffed toys for purchase, with proceeds of $715 donated to the North Bay Santa Fund ... In 236 games, Chenier has 70 goals and 75 assists for 145 points, two more than Luch Aquino and 19th on the Battalion's career list ... Coe has a five-game points streak in which he has five goals and as many assists for 10 points ... The Battalion went 3-for-5 on the power play. London was 0-for-4 ... Opening lines included Luke Moncada centring left winger Chenier and right winger Coe, Primeau centring left winger Caines and right winger Russell and Cameron Peters pivoting left winger Josh Currie and right winger Chad Denault. Liam Arnsby centred left winger Kyle Jackson and right winger Alex Christopoulos ... The Battalion was without James Mayotte and Christian Cicigoi ... Cameron Lamour, who made his Battalion debut Sunday in a 3-1 home-ice loss to the Owen Sound Attack, backed up Vrbetic ... Battalion assistant coach Scott Wray marked his 40th birthday ... Among the missing for London were Connor McMichael and Liam Foudy, who are with Canada for the World Junior Championship starting Dec. 26 in the Czech Republic. Alec Regula is with the United States team ... Mike Marley was the other referee.

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Ontario Hockey League Stories from December 20, 2019


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.

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