Battalion edges Guelph
Lirim Amidovski scored at 17:02 of the third period, breaking a tie and sending the North Bay Battalion to a 4-3 victory over the Guelph Storm in Ontario Hockey League action Thursday night.
Owen Van Steensel, Nolan Laird and Ethan Procyszyn also scored for North Bay, while goaltender Mike McIvor provided 26 saves before a crowd of 2,609 as the Battalion wore its Centurion-themed uniforms.
North Bay moved its won-lost-extended record to 10-9-2 for 22 points, fourth in the Central Division.
The Troops lost Andrew LeBlanc to injury at 8:26 of the final period. Athletic therapist Andrew Sachkiw attended to the overager before he was helped off the ice and left for the dressing room appearing to favour his right leg.
Cam Allen had one goal and two assists and Vilmer Alriksson and Hunter McKenzie a goal apiece for Guelph, which got 23 saves from goaltender Brayden Gillespie. The Storm is 6-12-2 for 14 points, fifth in the Midwest Division.
“The compete was really good,” said Battalion coach Ryan Oulahen.
“I was really impressed with their team speed. I thought we had to get going a little bit early in the game just to match that and be above them a little bit better. I thought we did. From the 10-minute mark on from the second period the rest of the game, I liked that version of how we played and found ways to stay in it when we didn’t have our best and found a way to get the job done.”
Amidovski netted the winner when, open in the slot, he redirected a shot by Jacob LeBlanc, who had three assists, from high on the left wing off a rush. Reyth Smith also assisted on Amidovski’s sixth goal of the season.
Procyszyn gave the Battalion a 3-2 lead on the power play at 13:08 of the period, shoveling home the rebound of a LeBlanc drive at the right lip of the crease. Shamar Moses provided the other assist on Procyszyn’s team-leading 16th goal.
The teams traded first-period markers, with Van Steensel striking for his 10th goal at 3:03, assisted by Moses, who fed the puck in front from behind the net. Alriksson replied at 7:04 with a spin move in the slot, netting his fifth goal on assists by Jett Luchanko and Allen.
Allen connected from the mid blue line through traffic 24 seconds into the second period. Budnick and Luchanko had assists on defenceman Allen’s sixth goal.
Laird tied it 2-2 at 16:05 as the Troops raced away on a four-on-one rush. Laird arrived as the second trailer to deposit his third goal behind Gillespie, with LeBlanc and Dylan Richter assisting.
The Battalion opens a two-game road trip with a visit to the Peterborough Petes at 7:05 p.m. Saturday. The game can be seen live in North Bay on YourTV Channels 12 and 700.
BATTALION BULLETS: A graphic design commemorating the late Ken Miller, a longtime on-ice official and contributor to North Bay hockey and the OHL, was unveiled on the facing of the east-side gondola … On CAA North and East Ontario Night, Jeff Woznow, manager of events and activations, took part in the ceremonial faceoff … LeBlanc has a five-game points streak in which he has one goal and nine assists for 10 points … Van Steensel led the Battalion with five shots on goal. Allen paced the Storm with six … Budnick and Jacob Therrien drew roughing minors and misconducts at 17:50 of the third period … The Battalion went 1-for-3 on the power play. Guelph was 0-for-4 … Opening lines saw Procyszyn centring left winger Van Steensel and right winger Moses, Andrew LeBlanc pivoting left winger Briir Long and right winger Therrien and Ryder Carey centring left winger Laird and right winger Amidovski. Richter centred left winger Smith and right winger Natan Teshome … Defence pairings were Bronson Ride with Wyatt Kennedy, Zach Wilson with Brayden Turley and Aaron Enright with Jacob LeBlanc … The Battalion was without Declan Gallivan, Kent Greer, Ihnat Pazii, Anthony Romani and Stepan Chukharev … Greer and Chukharev are sidelined with upper-body injuries incurred in a 6-5 overtime win Sunday over the visiting Sudbury Wolves … Among the missing for Guelph were Rowan Topp and Jake Karabela … Drew Jackson and Brendan Kane were the referees. photo and artcile credit- North Bay Battlion
