Storm before the calm
The North Bay Battalion has one assignment left before the Ontario Hockey League’s Christmas break: a date with the visiting Guelph Storm at 7 p.m. Thursday.
The game features The Brick North Bay Teddy Bear Toss Night, when plush toys will be thrown to the ice at Boart Longyear Memorial Gardens after the Battalion scores its first goal.
North Bay has a won-lost-extended record of 17-13-2 for 36 points, second in the Central Division. Guelph is 15-14-3 for 33 points, fourth in the Midwest Division.
With players thinking of returning home for the holidays, pre-Christmas games sometimes take on unusual characteristics, including distracted performances.
“These can be strange games, for sure, but I think the best way to approach it is to acknowledge that you’re going to get some time off,” Battalion coach Ryan Oulahen said Wednesday.
“Acknowledge it, get all your affairs in order, so to speak, meaning travel, have your plans set. Have all that done so by game time tomorrow you can be in game mode. That’s been our message. That’s kind of how we’re attacking this.
“It’s nice that we’ve just got one to prepare for, so we’re kind of treating it like a bit of a playoff game in terms of our preparation. You can deep-dive one opponent a little bit better here and then be ready.”
The Battalion has missed several players because of injury or illness in the first half of the season, some for extended periods, but the fact that the next game after Guelph is 10 days away means there’s additional time for recovery. Ryder Cali, Cam Warren, Jax Pereira and Aaron Enright all missed the three games last week, with Arseny Pronin back.
“That’s why I think tomorrow’s such a crucial game,” said Oulahen. “If we can leave that one with a really good feeling, we’re going to see some nice bodies coming back here right after the break and it’s going to be awesome.
“I guess what I’m saying is, ‘Do you risk it when you know you’ve got 10 more days until your next game?’ So we’re going to be cautious.”
The Battalion defeated the visiting Brampton Steelheads 4-3 in overtime last Thursday night, then lost 3-1 to the host Erie Otters on Saturday night despite having traveled to Pennsylvania the previous day. On Sunday, the Troops ended the road trip with a 7-3 victory over the Niagara IceDogs.
Moldovan import Alexander Karmanov, who didn’t attempt to enter the U.S. because of visa issues, earned an assist at St. Catharines for his first OHL point.
“He’s getting better and better and better by even the minute,” noted Oulahen of the seven-footer, the tallest player in Canadian Hockey League history. “Not even by the day, by the minute he’s getting better.
“He just had his best game for sure on the road against Niagara. Most minutes he’s played, he was real sound, keeps thing simple, gets in the way. He’s learning our systems now, so we’re thrilled to have him, and he’s way ahead of where we thought we’d be at this point, for sure.”
The Guelph game is to feature holiday prizes, photo opportunities with Santa and Mrs. Claus in the north concourse and themed warmup sweaters to be auctioned via DASH. Those without bears can purchase them at The Brick North Bay.
