Battalion defeats Ottawa
Ryder Cali scored two third-period goals, the winner and an empty-netter, to lift the North Bay Battalion to a 4-2 Ontario Hockey League victory Thursday night over the Ottawa 67’s.
Nick Wellenreiter provided one goal and two assists and Ethan Procyszyn had the other goal for the Battalion, while goaltender Mike McIvor made 25 saves before 2,174 at Boart Longyear Memorial Gardens.
North Bay improved its won-lost-extended record to 20-16-2 for 42 points, moving two points ahead of the idle Niagara IceDogs into sole possession of second place in the Central Division.
Sebastien Gervais and Hayden Barch made their Battalion debuts after being acquired Monday from the Saginaw Spirit, while Kaden Pitre and Aaron Enright returned from injuries.
“When we make moves, we kind of identify the fits that are going to go into how we want to play and, as they get more comfortable, there’s another level there too,” Battalion coach Ryan Oulahen said of the trade acquisitions.
“Barch on the back end, I mean, blocking shots, physical, in the face of opponents. He’s someone that you hate to play against but love to have on your team. And then with Gervais, I thought he was starting to develop some chemistry, especially with Pitre and (Lirim Amidovski), so I like what he brings. He’s just that veteran presence. He’s in the right spots, knows how to win hockey games, so both guys did real well tonight.”
Jasper Kuhta had one goal and one assist and Ryan White the other goal for the visitors. Goaltender Ryder Fetterolf stopped 22 of 25 shots.
Ottawa is 28-8-3 for 59 points atop the East Division, Eastern Conference and league. The 67’s, who have lost two straight games but are 9-1-1 in their last 11, engaged in a flurry of transactions during the week before the noon Friday trade deadline and dressed 17 skaters, one below the limit.
With Spencer Bowes off for holding, Cali broke a 2-2 tie on the power play at 10:01 of the final frame. Wellenreiter zipped the puck across the crease to Cali at the right lip for the redirection. Jonathan Kapageridis also assisted.
Fetterolf left for a sixth attacker with 1:22 to play, and Cali, unassisted, put the puck into the empty net for his 10th goal of the season at 19:16.
The teams swapped first-period goals, with Procyszyn striking first on the power play at 7:25. Kapageridis and Wellenreiter had the assists as Procyszyn fired his team-leading 13th goal from the right circle.
Kuhta replied at 19:04, tipping a left-point shot by Frank Marrelli in traffic in the goalmouth. It was Kuhta’s 18th goal.
White connected with the man advantage at 3:55 of the second period when he advanced in the high slot and wired the puck past McIvor. Kuhta and Cooper Foster assisted on the third goal for White.
Wellenreiter tied it at 10:28 with his fourth goal. Barch sent the puck along the blue line to Bronson Ride at the left point, and he moved in to unleash a shot that Wellenreiter redirected.
A video tribute to David Branch and a moment’s silence were held before the game. The OHL commissioner for 45 years before retiring in 2024, he died Sunday at 77. OHL teams and on-ice officials are to wear a ‘DB’ helmet decal for the rest of the season.
The Battalion visits the Brampton Steelheads at 7 p.m. Friday. The game can be seen live in North Bay on YourTV Channels 12 and 700.
BATTALION BULLETS: On Near North Crime Stoppers Night, raffles were held for a game-worn sweater and a team-autographed stick … It was the third of four meetings. Ottawa won 3-1 on the road Sept. 26 and 6-3 at home Nov. 30 … The Battalion went 2-for-2 on the power play. Ottawa was 1-for-2 … Opening lines included Procyszyn centring left winger Wellenreiter and right winger Parker Vaughan, Pitre centring left winger Gervais and right winger Amidovski and Evgeny Dubrovtsev pivoting left winger Shamar Moses and right winger Ryder Carey. Cali centred left winger Nolan Laird and right winger Cam Warren … Defence pairs had Ride with Brandt Harper, Enright with Barch and Kapageridis with Adrian Manzo … The Battalion was without Kent Greer, Alexander Karmanov, Declan Gallivan, Carter Kunopaski, Arseny Pronin and Jax Pereira … On Thursday, Ottawa sent Nathan Amidovski to Brampton for six OHL Priority Selection picks, including two second-rounders and two thirds, and acquired David Bedkowski from the Owen Sound Attack for five picks, including a second and two thirds … Jaxon Williams joined Brampton from Ottawa on Monday for a seventh-rounder … The 67’s acquired Nic Sima, a former member of the Battalion, from Saginaw on Tuesday for three picks, numbering a second-rounder, a third and a fourth … Ottawa overager Jack Dever was claimed off waivers Wednesday by the Kingston Frontenacs … Kuhta played for Finland in the World Junior Championship in Minnesota.
