It has been an impressive run again for the North Bay Battalion.
For the third consecutive year, the Troops have punched their ticket to the OHL Eastern Conference Final.
This time around the Battalion will face the Oshawa Generals.
The Troops finished first in the Central Division and second in the conference, while Oshawa was first in the East Division and conference.
The clubs meet in the playoffs for the third time, all conference finals. The Battalion swept a 2014 series before Oshawa won in six games in 2015.
Much like 2014 and 2015, this series between the rivals will have a local connection playing for the Gens.
In 2014 and 2015, former North Bay Trappers goalie Ken Appleby clashed with his hometown OHL team.
See related: Appleby up for McDavid Challenge
See also: Memorial Cup Notebook: North Bay native helps Generals to win
And: Appleby and Gens win Memorial Cup
Appleby, after allowing the game-winning goal by Jamie Lewis to send the Battalion to the OHL finals in 2014, made amends the next playoff year as his Generals did not stop after knocking out the Battalion in the Eastern Conference finals.
Appleby and his Generals squad coached by D.J. Smith then defeated Connor McDavid and the Erie Otters to win the OHL title. Then, the Gens defeated Leon Draisaitl and the Kelowna Rockets in the final to capture the 2015 Memorial Cup.
The 2015 Battalion squad was led by current NHLers Michael Amadio and Nick Paul.
This year, it's Powassan product Connor Punnett who was a late-season acquisition by the Generals. He hopes to disappoint the Battalion faithful as he searches for an OHL title with the Generals in his overage season.
Punnett, a former North Bay Trapper, had a great season split between the Barrie Colts and the Oshawa Generals.
In 66 games with the Colts and Gens, Punnett netted 11 goals and 42 assists for 55 points.
In early March, he signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Dallas Stars.
