The departure of Charlie Robertson via the trade route has opened up another goaltending opportunity with the Battalion.
On Monday, the Troops announced they have inked goaltender Charlie Larocque to an education and development agreement.
Larocque, a six-foot-one, 161-pound resident of Kanata, Ont., who turns 17 in July, was a sixth-round pick in the 2023 OHL Priority Selection from the Carleton Place Canadians U18s.
In 17 games this season with the junior B Carleton Place Jr. Canadians of the Eastern Ontario Junior Hockey League, he has a record of 12-4-1, a 2.21 goals-against average, a .932 save percentage and one shutout.
“Charlie is a young goalie whom we had ranked quite high coming into the Priority Selection last year,” said Battalion general manager and former goaltender Adam Dennis in a release.
Dennis says Larocque had a great offseason which translated well into his first season of junior.
“He’s sat at the top of his league in all statistical categories and will have a bright future with our team," he said.
North Bay has two goaltenders on the current roster in Dom DiVincentiis and Mike McIvor.
The Winnipeg Jets selected DiVincentiis, a Bolton, Ont., resident who turns 20 on March 4, in the seventh round of the 2022 National Hockey League Draft. He signed a three-year entry-level contract last summer. McIvor is a Warkworth, Ont., resident who turns 18 on March 22.
Prior to last week's trade deadline the Battalion acquired 6'6" defender Bronson Ride from the Niagara IceDogs for goaltender Charlie Robertson and multiple picks which opened the door for Dennis to add another signed netminder.
