No fans, no problem for Battalion

In what has been one of the strangest games in team history off the ice, the North Bay Battalion were back to their winning ways after a 4-3 shootout victory over the Mississauga Steelheads Thursday evening.

The win saw the team snap a six-game winless streak.

“Wins come in so many different forms and fashions, and with the skid that we were going through, sometimes it takes not the prettiest games to get through and guys to step up,” explained head coach Ryan Oulahen.

“Obviously Mitch Russell put us on his back and what a performance by him, and we got two points.”

The game, which had no fans in attendance, was a back and forth affair. The first goal came off the stick of Mississauga’s Kai Schwindt just under nine minutes in. Less than two minutes later, however, Russell scored his first of two in the period, and three in the game by collecting his own rebound after a feed from Dalyn Wakely found him in the slot. 

“Just with him (Russell), the maturity level of what he brings is so underrated,” said Oulahen. “Everyone sees the goals and the assists and points, but he’s so underrated for what he does day by day.

“He was probably like ‘enough is enough, I’m going to go win us a hockey game’ and pretty impressive by his part. I can go on and on as to what we think about him as a staff and what a great person he is so very happy for him.”

The second period saw the Steelheads control most of the play as they outshot North Bay 15-0. Eventually, Mississauga broke through on a goal from Zakary Lavoie.

Early in the third, Russell made sure the team would not be shut down offensively as he gave the Troops a 3-2 lead just over a minute in. Yet, less than four minutes later, James Hardie tied it back up. The two teams couldn’t solve their differences in regulation or overtime, before Simon Rose sent the Battalion home in the shootout, 4-3.

The Troops also featured a new-look lineup with a lot of mainstays out in Ty Nelson, Brandon Coe, Avery Winslow, and some newcomers acquired in trades including Kyle McDonald, Grayson Ladd and Nikita Tarasevich.

“It’s tricky, but it comes with opportunity,” Oulahen stated on the lineup changes.

“I’ve been saying this whole time through that it’s unpredictable day by day, but it’s all about who is playing on that given night and we put a plan in place and guys have a chance to rise to the occasion.

“Experiences like this will make all of us better going forward.”

After a 12-game pointless streak, Wakely moved up to the top line and assisted on Russell’s first two goals, which Oulahen says was a great sign.

“I thought it was a good opportunity for him to get off that skid. He’s a guy that can make plays and play with elite players because he has that hockey sense and he made a great play on one of Mitch’s goals.”

As previously mentioned, the game was played without fans, which added a different wrinkle to the game according to Oulahen.

“I was preparing myself going in, in terms of the noise level. Not only can your players hear you clear, but your opponent, and whatever message, you can hear it on the ice.

“Other than that aspect, I thought it was normal. Once the puck drops, you focus on what it going on there. In terms of energy and compete, it didn’t affect that. If anything, your guys can hear you better on the ice when you try to correct them.”

The Battalion is back in action Saturday when they face the Barrie Colts on the road in Barrie.