Battalion end skid with solid win over Petes

 North Bay Battalion looked to snap a six game losing streak Thursday evening when they welcomed the Peterborough Petes to Memorial Gardens. Snap the losing streak they did as they took down the Petes 4-1.

“It’s about time, and that’s what we said to the guys,” expressed head coach Ryan Oulahen. “It was a good played game for us for sure. Very similar to how I think we have been playing the last couple of games. We alleviated the mental errors, there wasn’t too many of those and we stuck with the game.

“It was probably 2-1 way too long. Their goalie played extremely well, we had some really good looks and chances but it is what it is. Maybe it was good for us to stick with it and it was hard to come by, but ultimately an awesome result for us.”

While North Bay carried most of the play in the first period, both teams played to a stalemate until late. With just over two minutes to play in the period, and on the powerplay, Andrew LeBlanc (6) "LeBanked" the puck off of Petes defender, Grayden Strohack’s skate. The puck bounced past Zach Bowen’s pad and into the net to give North Bay a 1-0 lead heading into the first intermission.

However 3:05 into the second, Peterborough tied it. Jonathan Melee, one of the few players left from the Petes 2022/23 championship teams sent the puck on net. Mike McIvor made the save, but the rebound found a wide open Gavin Bryant (8) who tapped the puck past an outstretched McIvor.

North Bay responded just over halfway through the period. This time, with the Troops shorthanded, Nick Wellenreiter (4) broke free and with Bronson Ride, had a two-on-none. Using Ride as a decoy, Wellenreiter was able to snap the puck past Bowen to give North Bay the lead once again.

The score between the 2022-23 Eastern Conference Final combatants was 2-1 North Bay after the second period.

Late in the third Wellenreiter (5) struck again as Ethan Procyszyn sprung him on a short break, and Wellenreiter made no mistake beating Bowen.

“It feels good,” Wellenreiter said. “We’ve been playing well the last little bit, it just hasn’t been going our way so it feels good to get one.

“The guys have been so welcoming and the coaching staff has been awesome. I love it here so far.”

“He’s just a hockey player,” Oulahen said on Wellenreiter. “You guys have heard me use the term ‘identity player’ he’s a hockey player. He’s really smart and can finish when he needs to.

“He loves the game. A hockey addict. A pretty good pickup, he’s really added an element to our team and game and we’re lucky to have him.”

With the Battalion shorthanded late and Bowen pulled for a six-on-four, Procyszyn (21) was able to finish the game off for North Bay with the shorthanded empty net goal to make the final 4-1.

Before tonight, North Bay’s last win came on December 13 in Oshawa as the Troops took down the Generals 3-1.

The Battalion look to build on the victory Friday when they travel to Sudbury on Friday for a dance with the Wolves. Puck drop from the Nickel City is 7:00 p.m.