Wakely nets two in return

Dalyn Wakely, a former favourite of North Bay Battalion fans, scored two goals to pace the Barrie Colts to a 3-1 victory Sunday over the Troops in his first return to Memorial Gardens.

Zach Wigle added a shorthanded empty-net goal for the Colts, who got 29 saves from goaltender Ben Hrebik before a crowd of 3,200.

Barrie has a won-lost-extended record of 23-9-2 for 48 points, first in the Ontario Hockey League’s Central Division, two points ahead of the Niagara IceDogs pending the result of their road game Sunday night against the Saginaw Spirit.

Overager Wakely, held without a point in a 5-2 Colts win at the Sadlon Arena on Saturday night, was sent to Barrie in an Oct. 10 trade that saw Shamar Moses join the Battalion.

Briir Long, acquired from the Brantford Bulldogs in a trade Oct. 28, scored his first OHL goal, while goaltender Mike McIvor provided 29 saves for the Battalion, which completed its only home-and-home series of the schedule. Jacob Therrien left the game with a shoulder injury in the first period.

North Bay, which suffered a season-high fifth consecutive loss, is 13-17-3 for 29 points, fifth in the division. The Troops’ last win was a 3-1 decision Dec. 13 over the host Oshawa Generals.

“We really came out hard today,” said Battalion coach Ryan Oulahen. “I loved our first period. You could argue it was one of our best of the entire year. In saying that, when you play a really good hockey team, it’s just a matter of time until they get going.”

Wakely opened the scoring on the power play at 15:41 of the second period. Ethan Procyszyn, who finished serving a crosschecking penalty issued at 12:59, stepped out of the box to take a lead pass but failed to establish both feet on the ice, making him an ineligible player and incurring another minor.

Wakely, positioned at the inner edge of the right circle, took a return pass from Kashawn Aitcheson deep in the circle and wired the puck past McIvor. Riley Patterson also assisted.

Wakely netted the eventual winner at 1:42 of the third period after McIvor blocked a Bode Stewart shot from the left side. The puck rebounded in front to an unchecked Wakely, who scored his team-leading 16th goal of the season.

Long replied 20 seconds later on a bizarre play. His shot off a left-wing rush glanced off Grayson Tiller’s skate and rebounded wildly off the end boards to the crease, where it hit Hrebik and found its way into the net. Wyatt Kennedy had the lone assist.

A slew of penalties peppered the rest of the frame, with the Battalion enjoying a pair of two-man advantages and Barrie one before penalty killer Wigle won a race for the puck and put his sixth goal into the empty net.

The Troops couldn’t capitalize on any of three power plays in the first period. Hrebik made a solid save against Nick Wellenreiter in tight at 4:31, one second after the first penalty expired.

The Battalion plays host to the Kitchener Rangers at 1 p.m. Tuesday in the traditional New Year’s Eve game on Soles4Souls Shoe Drive Day presented by BioPed. Fans with new or gently used shoes to donate have a chance to compete for a cash prize of $1,000.

BATTALION BULLETS: On Relevant Life Financial Group Day, a cheque was presented to Zach Hout, winner of the organization’s bursary … Therrien was taken to hospital for X-rays, but there was no immediate word as to his prognosis … Brantford made Long, a resident of Astorville, a 10th-round pick in the 2023 OHL Priority Selection. In 18 games with North Bay, he has two assists and three points … Moses led the Troops with five shots on goal. Wakely, a second-round pick in 2020, paced the Colts with six … The Battalion went 0-for-6 on the power play against the OHL’s top-ranked penalty-killing team. Barrie was 1-for-6 … Opening lines saw Procyszyn centring left winger Owen Van Steensel and right winger Lirim Amidovski, Ryder Carey pivoting left winger Moses and right winger Therrien and Ryder Cali centring left winger Andrew LeBlanc and right winger Wellenreiter. Nolan Laird centred left winger Reyth Smith and right winger Long … Cali, an affiliate player up from the junior A Milton Menace, made his home-ice debut … The Battalion was without Declan Gallivan, Dylan Richter, Ihnat Pazii, Anthony Romani, Zach Wilson and Stepan Chukharev … Among the missing for Barrie were Cole Beaudoin, Beau Akey, Emil Hemming and Sam Hillebrandt, all playing in the World Junior Championship … In Hillebrandt’s absence, Arvin Jaswal again backed up Hrebik … Matt Boulby and Matt Mannella were the referees. Photo/article credit - North Bay Battalion