Another Battalion season is ready to go.
The script has changed. Gone are franchise staples Dom DIvincentiis, Ty Nelson, Paul Christopoulos and Liam Arnsby.
A new group is set to lead the way for 2024-25 led offensively by Team Canada world junior hopeful Anthony Romani and his 58 regular season goals in 2023-24.
Ryan Oulahen, now adding assistant general manager to his head coaching duties, believes this is not a rebuilding year, but more of a reloading season where they intend to be contenders once again even though some early league polls are predicting the Troops to be a bubble playoff team in 2024-25.
"It can add a little bit of fuel and a little chip on the shoulder something we are used to here," said Oulahen about the predictions.
"Even though we have known locally we were going to have some very good hockey teams over the last few years, even around the league we were still suspect to start the year especially coming out of the pandemic. That was a year not every had us very high as well and we ended up having a fantastic season."
Oulahen has no reason to believe the 2024-25 version won't be highly competitive again.
"We believe that we're always going to be a good hockey team," he said.
The Battalion has 25 on the roster, including rookie defenceman Declan Gallivan, who’s at home in Sault Ste. Marie after missing the exhibition season with an illness. The number is made up of 14 forwards, nine defencemen and the two goaltenders.
Centre Wakely, left winger Owen Van Steensel, centre Andrew LeBlanc and defenceman Jacob LeBlanc all are overagers, born in 2004. OHL clubs may carry four until Jan. 9 but may dress only three in any given game.
Van Steensel and the LeBlanc twins are to be in uniform against Peterborough.
Where's Wakely?
While it appears the Battalion have solidified their three overagers, very little has been stated by the organization after 20-year-old 104 point scorer Dalyn Wakely was let go this week from the Edmonton Oilers camp after playing a pre-season game with the Oilers against the Calgary Flames.
"There's, there's no update," said Oulahen during Wednesday's media conference.
"We don't have direction on Edmonton as of right now. So as of you know, just standing here right now with you guys, there really is just no direction."
Petes performance
The Troops will open the season against a Peterborough Petes team which features former North Bay AAA Trappers forward Chase Lefebvre who has earned one of the overage spots on the Petes after attending Detroit Red Wings main camp.
“Systematically, they’re a top opponent to play," said Oulahen.
"They’re really well coached. They’re always on the right side of the puck. They’re one of those stingier defensive-style teams in the league, so that’s something we’re going to have to deal with, for sure.”
Who will be Battalion heavy left?
Oulahen noted the club is mulling over candidates to succeed the graduated Liam Arnsby as captain and that a decision may not be made for some time. Centre Arnsby, the eighth captain in the Battalion’s North Bay era dating to 2013, served for three seasons.
"Nothing has been announced yet, we are working through that," he said.
"Things are happening fast right now and we will see how that goes and we will name the leadership group when we do."
In a pregame ceremony, the Battalion will raise the Central Division championship banner earned in 2023-24 with a won-lost-extended record of 39-20-9 for 87 points. It was the third consecutive season in which the Troops finished atop the division.
The Battalion completes weekend action when it visits the Barrie Colts on Saturday night.
