Battalion Hits Home Ice
October 12, 2022 – Ontario Hockey League (OHL) – North Bay Battalion News Release
NORTH BAY, Ont. – The puck drops at 7 p.m. Thursday on the North Bay Battalion’s latest-ever Ontario Hockey League home opener.
With a won-lost-extended record of 3-2-0, the Battalion faces the Peterborough Petes for the second time in the young season with a full complement of 22 skaters and two goaltenders on hand.
Right winger Kyle McDonald has returned from the National Hockey League’s Ottawa Senators and their Belleville Senators affiliate in the American League, while defencemen Avery Winslow and Tnias Mathurin also are back in North Bay. Winslow has recovered from hip surgery, while Mathurin, who has been at the camp of the NHL’s Detroit Red Wings, is deemed a week away from game action.
Overager McDonald, a free-agent invitee to the Ottawa camp, was acquired from the Windsor Spitfires in January. He scored 18 goals and earned 10 assists for 28 points in as many games with the Troops, with season totals of 35 goals and 20 assists for 55 points in 53 games. He added six goals and three assists for nine points in 13 playoff games.
“Obviously, Kyle is a big piece,” coach Ryan Oulahen said Wednesday of the six-foot-four, 217-pound Ottawa native.
“He’s a guy who can play in all situations for us, a veteran player, somebody that when we got him from Windsor, not only what he brings on the ice but the character, the leadership. He’s relentless every single day in his work habits, his effort, and he’s a phenomenal human being, so you insert that, it really just elevates the level of your entire team.
“We’re going to put him in situations to succeed. Kyle can really shoot the puck, and I know that he’ll have a lot of attempts every game. He’s not shy to do so. I think he’s poised. He’s worked really, really hard on his fitness and getting his body ready for a big year here, and we’re hoping for the best for him.
“He wants an NHL contract. That’s on his mind, and I know he’s going to do everything he can to earn one.”
McDonald, a second-round pick, 25th overall, in the 2018 OHL Priority Selection who has played only 144 regular-season games because of the pandemic-driven cancellation of the 2020-21 campaign, said the Senators told him to get more playing time in major junior.
“They want me to dominate here and be that big guy, keep being a force out there and score goals and have like a sick year, and hopefully that helps me build even more for being ready to play in that level next year.”
Winslow, who spent time rehabilitating at home in St. Pete Beach, Fla., said he’s set to step into the lineup.
“I got healthy and got really good physical therapy back home. I came back here ready to go, so I’ll be playing tomorrow night and I’m really excited to get back after it here.”
The Battalion has named six alternates to work with captain Liam Arnsby, with three wearing an ‘A’ for each of home and away games. The home alternates are Winslow, McDonald and Matvey Petrov, while their road counterparts are Ty Nelson, Paul Christopoulos and Justin Ertel.
The Troops won 3-1 last Thursday night at Peterborough to open an eastern swing of three games in as many nights as Memorial Gardens hosted a Pinty’s Grand Slam of Curling event. The latest home opener in franchise history to this point was played Oct. 11, 2013, the first Battalion home game at North Bay after 15 seasons in Brampton.
The home opener, presented by Royal LePage, will feature the raising of the Central Division championship banner for last season, when the Battalion went 43-18-7 for 93 points.
Rogers Radio will be live on location outside the arena before the game, for which Gen7Fuel, sponsor of the new Fan Zone in section 9, has purchased 500 tickets. They were provided to area schools by Battalion players on Tuesday.
The St. Joseph-Scollard Hall Catholic Secondary School band will be at the game, which is to feature prizes and giveaways. Battalion schedule magnets, compliments of Cogeco, are to be distributed to fans leaving the game by players not dressed for it.
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