Although perhaps muted in recent years, it was still a rivalry game Sunday when the North Bay Battalion welcomed the Niagara IceDogs to Memorial Gardens. The IceDogs took the two points with a 3-2 victory over the Troops.
“I do think this is probably going to be a good little reset for us, a good little learning moment,” said Battalion coach Ryan Oulahen told Battalionhockey.com.
"First and foremost, you always give the team credit that comes in here. They worked hard today and they earned two points against us.”
Welcomed back was netminder Charlie Robertson, who was traded by the Troops to Niagara at the recently passed OHL Trade Deadline, along with a litany of draft picks for Bronson Ride.
Oulahen was impressed by Robertson's post trade performance.
“Give Charlie credit. He’s a good goaltender. He’s a great kid, and we wish him all the luck, obviously not against us all the time," said Oulahen.
The IceDogs got the scoring started just under six minutes in when Andrew Vermeulen (5) beat Mike McIvor, banking the puck off the crossbar and just over the goal line. The goal was assisted by Masen Wray, son of Battalion assistant coach Scott Wray.
Minutes later, North Bay attempted to tie the game as Owen Van Steensel found himself on a shorthanded breakaway, only to be foiled by the pads of Robertson.
In the second, the Battalion ran into some penalty trouble. After killing off the five-on-three, the remaining time left on the second penalty, Kevin He (21) beat McIvor near side. To McIvor’s credit, the netminder played the shot well but the puck was just perfectly placed.
Continuing in the second, the Troops got on the board finally just under five minutes in. Andrew LeBlanc stickhandled the puck to the right of Robertson’s net, moving out front and taking the shot that was saved by the IceDogs goalie, but the rebound found Jacob Therrien (15) who had a wide open net, making the score 2-1 for Niagara.
The IceDogs were undeterred, however, as the second pick in this past year’s OHL Priority Selection, Ryan Roobroeck (13), danced around Liam Arnsby before sniping the puck past McIvor’s blocker.
In the third period with time ticking down, Andrew LeBlanc (12) brought the Troops back to within a goal nine minutes in. The teams were playing four-on-four when LeBlanc looped in front of the net, Robertson made the save, LeBlanc picked up the loose puck again, skated up to the blueline and back in along the boards before cutting to the net, slipping it five hole on the former Battalion netminder.
That was all for the scoring in this one as the IceDogs and Robertson skate away with a 3-2 victory.
Without registering a point, Anthony Romani saw his 19 game point streak come to an end.
The Battalion are back in action Thursday when they welcome the Sudbury Wolves to town for the first half of a home and home. Puck drop from Memorial Gardens is 7 p.m., and you can catch all the post game reactions on the Frontline’s After Action Report. That goes live shortly after the final buzzer on Spreaker.
