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The North Bay Battalion opens a four-day training camp Monday with a few changes to the ranks of the Ontario Hockey League club’s support staff.
General manager Adam Dennis, head coach Ryan Oulahen and assistants Scott Wray and Bill Houlder all return after helping win a second straight Central Division title. Also returning are goaltending coach Mavric Parks, Dr. Mark Bruner, the mental performance coach, and Andrew Sachkiw, head athletic therapist.
Two contributors, however, in Peter Renzetti, who was the strength and conditioning coach, and Mackenzie Campbell, formerly the equipment manager have departed.
Caleb Mady has been promoted to head strength and conditioning coach after working alongside Renzetti for two seasons.
Will Ziniuk enters his second year with the Battalion and his first as equipment manager. He will continue in his position as director of analytics.
Ryan Ramsay undertakes the role of development consultant. Ramsay is general manager and head coach of the Haliburton County Huskies of the junior A Ontario Junior Hockey League. He will oversee the development of some Battalion prospects as well as track free agents in the OJHL.
Campbell has joined the Ontario Reign, the American Hockey League affiliate of the National Hockey League’s Los Angeles Kings, as assistant equipment manager.
A total of 57 players are expected to attend camp, numbering 33 forwards, 19 defencemen and five goaltenders.
Ukrainian centre Ihnat Pazii, the Troops’ first-round pick in the Canadian Hockey League Import Draft on July 5, is recovering from knee surgery but should be ready to play in exhibition action. Forward Ryan Daze, a 14th-rounder in the 2023 OHL Priority Selection from the Mississauga Senators U16s, also is off the ice with a knee issue.
Monday features registration, medicals, fitness testing and a practice for each of the Team Green and Team White rosters.
Intrasquad games at Memorial Gardens are scheduled for 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. both Tuesday and Wednesday, with a final game at 9 a.m. Thursday. Admission to the games is free.
With defenceman Luc Brzustowski having been transferred to the OJHL’s Milton Menace on Aug. 10, the Battalion will have four 2003-born players at camp, numbering forwards Liam Arnsby, who’s a draftee of the NHL’s Florida Panthers, Justin Ertel and Pasquale Zito and defenceman Paul Christopoulos.
Teams may dress a maximum of three overagers, defined as those turning 20 in the year the season starts.
